16: THE FIRST FRUIT: The Fruit of Love

Take My Hand Inspirations

Fruit of the Spirit Series

THE FIRST FRUIT: The Fruit of Love

Consider your Christian life like a plant; and Jesus Christ as the Sower.  From the Introduction: Like a Tree Planted (Blog #15), we trustingly embraced the knowledge that when we give our hearts to Christ, He opens our hearts and plants His seeds of whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things . . . and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9).

As you allow these seeds to germinate with the watering of God’s Word in your mind’s thoughts (and emotions/feelings stored in your heart), YOUR SOUL (therefore, your life) becomes rooted in Christ: That Christ may dwell in your hearts [soul] through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, . . . may be filled with all the fullness of God (Read Ephesians 3:17-19).

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2).

In Christ you are rooted.  Though the pressures of life shall buffet and battle against you, you are given the strength and steadfastness to stand strong; not shake and wither unto death.  Think about plants and wind and rainstorms.  After the torrential blasts of the storms, you find that many tall, luscious, sturdy plants have fallen heavily to the ground never to recover again.

In life, those who do not have the seeds of Jesus implanted in their souls, come crashing down no matter how majestic they appeared before the storms.  BUT YOU STILL STAND, more vibrant and ever beautiful after the raging torrent than before you were tossed and twisted and beaten and bent.

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed [worried or confused], but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but NOT DESTROYED (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Why? Because HE LIVES IN YOU.  And He’s in love with you, because HE IS LOVE.  God is love.  We all “know” that.  Now it’s time for you to believe that God-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit-is love.

Bitterness, grief, anger and not getting answers to questions you have that troubled your logical mindset have made you put our Lord Jesus Christ at a distance.  You just can’t see the love.  You have listened to “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” in John 3:16 so many times, it has become insignificant in your thoughts. You’ve put this phrase at the ‘back of your mind’.  But take a moment to meditate on this: Who said these words?  When did He say it; and to whom?

Jesus, Himself, the Son of God, spoke these words only moments away from His own crucifixion,- that ultimate sacrifice, symbol, undeniable outreach of  bear nakedness - not only to Nicodemus, but to all those who believe in Him, in the Love that would redeem us sickly sinners back into feeling His agape again. 

Think!!!! Bring it to the front of your mind. What does this mean to you and me today?

Nicodemus was a man of Scripture.  He realized who Jesus was (John 3:2) and came to Him to get peace for his troubled soul vexed and perplexed by unattainable answers to his carnal mind’s questions. Isn’t that how we feel sometimes, even now?  We see and hear about so much strife, conflict, confusion and everything out of order; how can our human experience ever allow us to understand what true love is? Why did Jesus share John 3:16 to a soul on the way to conversion?

Because, in our conversion, or new birth (being born-again), we must pass through God’s portal, or womb, into the spiritual realm called love.  As we adopt our earthly father’s genetic make-up (We may have our father’s eyes or hair colour, etc.), so, too, do we adopt our Heavenly Father’s attribute of agape love (Reflect on 2 Timothy 2:7).  In other words, we also must be love because when we become God’s children, we must resemble Him.  And with Jesus, who is the FIRST FRUIT, we also become heirs of our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom (1 Corinthians 15:23).

Because He died for you, so that you may live in Him.

Jesus’ love is unfailing and faithful to the end; our end, when our expiry date comes; and our souls travel to our eternal home.  Where will you go?  Into the LOVE OF GOD or into the heat of hell?  Today, you have to choose.  JESUS IS COMING SOON!

Only love can take away all the pain in your soul.  And love is energy; it passes into you and out of you like an electrical current.  Allow God’s Love, in Jesus Christ, to freely flow through you and fill you up in all fullness.  Then and only then can you pour that love from your own heart into the lives of others (including those who’ve really hurt you) with patience and forgiveness.

Now sing with the saints: “LOVE LIFTED ME, LOVE LIFTED ME.  WHEN NOTHING ELSE COULD HELP, LOVE LIFTED ME.”

In our next conversation, get ready for sharing the Joy of God’s Fruits.

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