Fruit of the Spirit – Love

The fruit of the Spirit is introduced in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

This fruit is produced in our lives only through the Holy Spirit. We don’t possess these godly traits on our own. We see this fruit manifest in us only through the power and work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This is a direct reflection and result of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Now we know that even those who don’t know Jesus can experience and express love, but the love referred to in Galatians is the Greek word agape, which is defined as "the highest form of love, charity" and "the love of God for man and of man for God.So the love that the Holy Spirit produces in Believers is this agape love; a deeper form of love that only comes from God.

Arguably, the most well-known verse in the Bible, John 3:16, tells us that God loved the world so much that He sent his one and only Son to save us. The love referenced in this verse is agape, a sacrificial pure love.

Only this type of love allows us to have a relationship with God, and through this relationship with Him, we have the Holy Spirit in us who is producing this love in us! How amazing that God’s love for us allows us to experience and manifest this type of love in our lives and for others around us!

Below are some verses where agape love is used; as you read these verses, ask the Spirit to help you grow in areas where you need to be developed. Ask Him to reveal those in your life who need to be shown agape love and how you can share Jesus with them!

• Romans 13:10
• 1 John 4:8
• Romans 5:5
• John 15:13
• 1 John 3:16
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
• 1 John 4:10
• John 21:15-17
• John 13:35
• 1 Corinthians 13:13