The Object of Love
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
Love in this verse is agape. And agape means affection or benevolence. Love, the Spirit’s attribute. Previously I mentioned that affections are towards an object. Today, by God’s grace, we will examine what the object of love is.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
A familiar verse and one that can be taken easily for granted. Yet this verse expresses the object of our Lord’s love, the world. And more specifically, you.
You became the object of God’s love. And when you receive His love, His Spirit lives inside of you (Romans 8:11). And Spirit bears fruit whose first attribute is love. This attribute comes from the person of God himself.
“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:8
God’s attribute of love becomes yours. As the King’s daughter His love is now your love.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” 1 John 3:1
You are the object of God’s love whereby He pours into you His incredible affection. This love is everlasting and never fades. It has been ready for you in eternity past. And His love will be available to you in eternity future. God’s love is everlasting.
“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3
You became the source of God’s love, and now His Spirit in you continues to flow. The fruit of the Spirit breaks forth in the bloom of His love in your life. Its sweet aroma brings joy, and His peace overwhelms you. The trials of life become part of His weaving hand.
And in His gentleness, by His faith in you, you seek others. In His meekness and temperance, you reach out with compassion to one more life in need of a Savior.
You are the fruit of the Spirit others will see.
You, the object of His love, is where the fruit of the Spirit grows. And it is God himself that grows in you.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30
To GOD be ALL the GLORY
In His hands,
Ann Marie Moore
LWHseries.com – Know True Love
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