Love -- The Spirit's Fruit in Our Lives

Treasured friend,

I found this beautiful quote this morning, as I was reading DL Moody's classic book, Secret Power. It caught my attention, I suppose, because without the supernatural love poured out in our hearts by God's Spirit, our caregiving responsibilities just might overwhelm us. He references Paul's list of the Fruit of the Spirit, from Galatians 5. Here's the biblical reference first ... then Moody's perceptive quote:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (HCSB)

Moody observes that just as Paul listed love as the first fruit -- it's the source of all the other eight.

Joy is love exulting; peace is love in repose; long suffering is love on trial; gentleness is love in society; goodness is love in action; faith is love on the battlefield; meekness is love at school; and temperance is love in training.
Dwight L. Moody, Secret Power, (Chicago: F. H. Revell, 1881)

May our Lord and Savior equip us today, by His Spirit, to love as He loves us.

To love in action and repose.
     In suffering and in training.
          On trial and in society.

To love in our caregiving.
     To love in our interactions with a hostile world.
          To love in our relationships.
               To love even those who make loving so very hard.



Blessings and prayers,

Julie

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