Monday, 20 November 2017
Fruit of the Spirit - Love
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There is a long list of the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22. There are 9 of them listed. The first is love. Something about fruit is that it ripens for a season (until it is fully ripe - then it begins to rot). This is why we are constantly being pruned (cut back, trimmed) by the Lord. The Bible calls it being chastened. In Hebrews 12:7-8 we are told unless we are chastened, we are illegitimate. Meanwhile, back at love ... there is a short list of 3 in 1 Corinthians 13. Love is mentioned along with faith and hope. But love is the only one to be called "the greatest of these". Why is that? It is the only one of those 3 that will survive Yeshua's return. Once Yeshua returns, we will not need faith or hope. I've told you many times, "Yeshua is the reality of all things." (You know you're pathetic when you start quoting yourself - I'm guilty.) When we have the reality, we will not need faith or hope, because we will have the fullness of everything for which we had faith and hope. But love will "abide" forever. 1 John 4:7 to the end of the chapter, spells it out ... We find the phrase "God is love" both in verse 8 and in verse 16. What is love? Let me offer my own simple definition (again, quoting from myself). "Love is putting the needs of others ahead of your own needs. Love is self-sacrificing." This leads us to Yeshua's words ... John 15:13 "No one has greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends." Shalom U'Vracha (peace and blessing), R. Michael.
Posted By
Rabbi Michael Weiner,
11:02am
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