Hello ,
Today, we're going to begin a series on the Fruit of the Spirit. Here is the first installment of that series:
Love Is the Root of Everything
Scriptures:
“By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” — John 13:35
“God is love.” — 1 John 4:8
Love is
not just one fruit among many. It is the root system that feeds them all. Without love, joy becomes shallow, peace becomes fragile, patience becomes forced, and kindness becomes conditional. The fruit of the Spirit begins with love because love is the nature of God Himself.
History shows us that laws can control behavior, but only love transforms hearts.
During the early centuries of Christianity, believers lived under constant threat of persecution. They were imprisoned, mocked, and even killed. Yet historians noted something remarkable about them. When plagues swept through cities, Christians stayed behind to care for the sick—often at the cost of their own lives. They didn’t do this to earn salvation or prove a point. They did it because love had taken root in them.
That kind of love cannot be manufactured. You cannot grit your teeth and decide to love like that. Love is not the result of effort; it is the result of surrender. When we trust God with our wounds, our fears, and our pride, His Spirit begins to grow love in us naturally—like fruit on a healthy tree.
Many people struggle with love because they believe it depends on how others behave. But biblical love flows from who God is, not from how people treat us. Jesus loved even when misunderstood, rejected, and betrayed. He trusted the Father so deeply that love continued to flow through Him, even on the cross.
When God asks us to love,
He is not asking us to drain ourselves dry. He is inviting us to stay connected to the Source. Love grows when we remain close to Him—through prayer, Scripture, and daily dependence.
Today, trust that God knows how to love through you better than you know how to love on your own. You do not have to force it.
Stay rooted.
Stay connected.
The fruit will come.
Here is your Reflection Song:
They'll Know We Are Christians
Have a great day and God bless!
Pastor Mike / The Open
Word
