Fruit of The Spirit: Love

Fruit of the Spirit - Love

My wife was watching HGTV the other night (which is guy code for “Yes, I watched it with her”). Through a few episodes of House Hunters, a show where a person or a couple tours 3 prospective homes with a realtor, I couldn’t help noticing the abuse of the word “love”.

The people looking at the homes loved backsplashes. They loved crown molding. They loved the size of bedrooms and bathrooms and bathtubs. They loved lot-sizes and breakfast nooks and granite countertops. They loved man-caves and mom-caves and mudrooms.

Word Abuse

It reminded me the word love is overused.

It will be overused today. You’ll probably hear “I love all this rain we’re getting” from someone.

It will be overused tomorrow. I know I’ll probably say, “I love fajitas” at some point this weekend.

Some have suggested upping the value of the word love when you want to express selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love by using the word “agape” instead.

I know if someone tells me they “agape me” it will weird me out a little bit.

You can’t cure this. Once a word or phrase is out there and wildly used, it has to run its course, e.g., “Don’t go there” might sound archaic if you hear it in conversation today.

Nothing is going to stop the abuse of the word “love” by God’s creation, just like nothing is going to stop my abuse of quotation marks in this post.

God Means It When He Says It

At some point, we’ll want to express real love to somebody and let that person know it’s not the fajita kind of love. Use “agape” at your own risk.

I believe the best way to express this higher love is to know how much you are loved by God.

As his creation, we are set higher than the angels, higher than the animals, given to a special plan by God for God.

We are loved by Him both collectively and individually in His intimate care for our thought-by-thought and action-by-action each and every second.

I get the feeling God’s love for us is higher than His love for a well-designed solar system.

The Bible is packed with scripture on His love for us and how we should love.

The best way to express love is to know first how much you are loved by God.

For those who are hurting today or struggling to find their way, be encouraged and encourage others with this love.

It can’t be overused.

If you think it can, don’t go there.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” – 1 John 4:16

“Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” – Psalm 36:5


Fruit of the Spirit Series:

Fruit of the Spirit: Love

Fruit of the Spirit: Joy

Fruit of the Spirit: Peace

Fruit of the Spirit: Patience

Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness

Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness

Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness

Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness

Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control

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author avatar
Chris Howard
I am a man who loves his wife, Jessica, his daughter, Clara, his family, his friends and his church. Jesus Christ makes this all possible. He has made the difference in my life and I hope you encounter the difference He can make in yours.

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JasonB
JasonB
9 years ago

Great post, I think there a lot of words today that are overused or misused.

Mike Mobley
Mike Mobley
Reply to  JasonB
9 years ago

Great point Jason, thanks so much for sharing!

Sharon Hope Betron Delabar
Sharon Hope Betron Delabar
9 years ago

I truly delighted in that brother! Amen!

Sharon Hope Betron Delabar
Sharon Hope Betron Delabar
Reply to  Chris Howard
9 years ago

Thank you for your encouragement!

Mike Mobley
Mike Mobley
Reply to  Sharon Hope Betron Delabar
9 years ago

Thanks so much for sharing Sharon!

abuckwalter
abuckwalter
9 years ago

Really enjoyed the humor, note I did not say I “loved” it, and also the point here Chris. We abuse the word love and sometimes need a reminder of just how powerful of a word it really is. thanks

Mike Mobley
Mike Mobley
Reply to  abuckwalter
9 years ago

Awesome!!!

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