Fruit of the Spirit – Love

Living Love: The First Fruit of the Spirit

Love. It’s more than a feeling or a fleeting emotion—it’s the first fruit mentioned in the list of the fruit of the Spirit for a reason. When Paul wrote to the Galatians about the kind of life the Spirit produces in us, love came first because everything else flows from it. Love is foundational. It’s not just something we feel—it’s something we do. It’s a choice we make. And as believers, it’s the most powerful expression of our connection to God.

Scripture reminds us, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8, NIV). That verse always stops me in my tracks. It’s not saying that God simply has love. It’s saying that love is who He is. When we come into relationship with Him, when we draw near and abide in Him, His nature begins to flow through us. His love becomes the fruit that grows in us and is visible to others.

Think of it this way: a tree will always bear fruit that reflects its nature. We don’t expect apples to grow from an orange tree. And likewise, if we are rooted in God—the true Vine—our lives will begin to bear His likeness. That likeness is love not just in word, but in deed, in attitude, and daily interaction.

The Greatest Example of Love

We don’t have to guess what this kind of love looks like. God showed it to us in a most breathtaking and sacrificial way. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NIV).

Pause with me here. Imagine what that really means.

God gave. He gave His only Son—not because we deserved it, not because we earned it, but simply because He loved us. That’s the kind of love we call Agape—a selfless, sacrificial, never-failing love. It’s the kind of love that reaches into the darkest places and says, “You still matter to Me.”

Jesus walked this earth, experiencing what we experience—hunger, exhaustion, grief, betrayal. He didn’t isolate Himself from human pain; He stepped right into it. And He did so knowing it would lead to the cross. He willingly laid down His life so that we could be reconciled with the Father.

That’s not just love, it’s perfect love.

A Love That Transforms

This same love is what the Holy Spirit produces in us when we walk with Him. It’s not something we can manufacture ourselves. We might try, but eventually, our strength runs out. I mean, I know I have tried to love others, and I know that others have tried to love me. But let’s be honest, people disappoint us. Situations frustrate us. Life drains us. And let’s be honest, some people are just hard to love.

But the fruit of the Spirit isn’t about mustering up the energy to “try harder.” It’s about surrendering. It’s about making space in our hearts for the Holy Spirit to work. When we let God have full access to our lives, love becomes more than something we aim for—it becomes who we are.

Paul gives us a clear and challenging picture of what this love looks like in 1 Corinthians 13:

“Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others; it is not self-seeking; it is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
(1 Corinthians 13:4–7, NIV)

Read that again, slowly. It’s not just a list, it’s a mirror. It invites us to ask: Does my love reflect these qualities?

Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes it’s a work in progress. And that’s okay. The point isn’t perfection—it’s transformation.

Love That Reaches Beyond Borders

Our world is aching for this kind of love. Real love. Not the filtered version we see on social media. Not love that’s transactional or based on convenience. But love that serves. Love that listens. Love that gives without demanding in return.

And that kind of love starts with us.

It begins in the home—with our families, our spouses, our children. It grows in our churches and communities, in how we speak, how we serve, and how we forgive. And it reaches outward to the marginalized, the forgotten, the overlooked.

Scripture says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7, NIV). Love is not optional. It’s not a “bonus feature” of faith. It’s evidence that God is truly at work in us.

When we love this way, we reflect Christ. And people notice. Jesus Himself said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35, NIV).

What It Means to Walk in Love

So, how do we do this practically? How do we walk in love in a world that often feels cold, divided, and self-centered?

Here are a few reflections that have helped me:

• Start each day with God. Spend time in prayer, asking Him to fill your heart with His love. Don’t rush past this. We can’t give what we haven’t received.
• Pause before reacting. Whether it’s a frustrating conversation or an unexpected inconvenience, take a breath and ask, “What does love require of me in this moment?”
• Extend grace. Remember, everyone is fighting a battle you can’t always see. Be quick to forgive and slow to judge.
• Serve quietly. Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is show up—without applause, without recognition. Just because it’s needed.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to prune your heart. If there are places where bitterness or pride has taken root, invite Him to remove it. He will, and He’ll replace it with something better.

A Final Word of Encouragement

Friend, love isn’t just the first fruit; it’s fuel for everything else. It’s what makes our joy genuine, our peace enduring, and our kindness genuine. Without love, the rest of the fruit withers.

So today, let’s ask God to cultivate His love in us. Let’s live from the deep well of grace we’ve been given. And let’s remember that when we love like Jesus, we bring heaven a little closer to earth.

Amen.

Ready to grow in your faith and reflect God’s character? Download Fruitful Living: A Bible Study Guide to the Fruit of the Spirit today and start cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit in your life.