Fruit of the Spirit: It Starts With Love

I was thinking the other day about what it takes to be a really good human in a culture that, at times, seems downright inhumane.  To be fair, I realized I struggle with this, so there was a bit of introspection involved as well.  

In the end, my thoughts took me to a couple of verses in the Apostle Paul's letter to the Galatians in the New Testament, and what is commonly known as the "fruit of the Spirit."   In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul outlines what he believes to be the "fruit" or sign of a person who is being led by the Spirit of God: 

22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

These nine signs have been the subject of countless sermons, books, theological treatises, Bible studies, and more. I have preached on them numerous times over the past twenty years. 

But in light of our current cultural climate, I thought I would revisit them, and write some Devos on each one, beginning with love.  

The Apostle Paul begins his teaching on the fruit of the Spirit with love, not because it is the simplest virtue, but because it is foundational. 

Love is not merely one fruit among many; it is the root system from which all the others grow. Without love, joy becomes shallow, patience becomes forced, and kindness becomes selective. Love is the soil in which the Spirit does its deepest work.

Scripture reminds us that love is never something we generate on our own. “We love because God first loved us” (1 John 4:19). This reverses the logic many of us learned. Love is not a spiritual achievement; it is a response. It flows from encounter, not effort. Jesus makes this unmistakable when he says, “Abide in me as I abide in you… apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4–5). Love emerges naturally from connection, not obligation.

Biblical love is far more demanding than sentiment. Paul’s famous words in 1 Corinthians 13 describe love as patient, kind, resilient, and enduring. This love does not insist on its own way. It bears, hopes, and perseveres. Such love cannot be sustained through willpower alone. It is cultivated through prayer, humility, and proximity to God’s heart.

When love becomes fruit rather than performance, it changes how we see others. We stop asking who deserves compassion and start asking how God might be loving the world through us. Jesus names this love as the defining mark of discipleship: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Love grows slowly. It stretches us. It matures through forgiveness and failure alike. The Spirit forms love in us as we remain open, present, and willing to be changed.

You are not asked to love perfectly. You are invited to remain connected to the One who is love. Over time, the fruit will come.

Prayer
Loving God, root us deeply in your grace. Shape our hearts so that love flows naturally from our lives. Help us trust the work your Spirit is doing within us. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. Where do you find love most challenging right now?

2. How does abiding in God reshape your understanding of love?

3. What helps you stay rooted in love rather than effort?