Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

LOVE TOPS THE LIST

This entry was posted on 04-21-2008 and is filed under uncategorized.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love..." (Gal. 5:22).

I am not surprised that love leads the list of the fabled fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5. After all, did not Paul say that of faith, hope, and love that love was "the greatest of these"? Anywhere you find a list of biblical virtues in the Bible you will find that love is either mentioned first or is qualified with a statement like "above all these put on love."

Do I have love for God, for His church (that is, His people), for my neighbor, for my enemies? The Holy Spirit can produce that kind of love in us. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "Give me such love for God and men as will blot out all hatred and bitterness." The Holy Spirit can do just that. Remember, He is our divine Helper. Don't be afraid to ask for agape love.

Max Muller noted, "Would not the carrying out of one single commandment of Christ, 'Love one another,' change the whole aspect of the world and sweep away prisons and workhouses, and envying and strife, and all the strongholds of the devil?" The awesome power of divine love, when applied to the human condition, is beyond our comprehension. Ask yourself today: "What is the loving thing to do?" and then do it, no matter the cost. After all, God so loved the world. Go thou and do likewise!

Hymn/Prayer: "Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heav'n, to earth come down; Fix in us Thy humble dwelling, all Thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, Thou art all compassion, Pure, unbounded love Thou art; Visit us with Thy salvation, Enter ev'ry trembling heart" (Charles Wesley).