01/28/2025
Love—the Foundation to the Fruit of the Spirit
Love is the foundation for all the fruits of the Spirit— joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The love that grows from the Spirit is deep, active, and unwavering. It reflects God’s very nature and flows from your relationship with Him. Love comes from God working within you as you trust Him and seek His purpose.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
– 1 John 4:7-8 ESV
Love, as a foundational fruit of the Spirit, holds everything together and helps the other fruits to grow. Without love, patience becomes impossible. Kindness loses its meaning without love driving your actions. Self-control falters without love setting your priorities. Every fruit of the Spirit grows from your connection to God’s divine love.
The love described in Galatians in 5:22-23 requires connection. The closer you draw to God, the more His love fills you and flows through you. When you let the Spirit lead, love changes how you see others. You’ll notice yourself responding to frustration with gentleness, choosing forgiveness over anger, and making sacrifices for others without hesitation. These aren’t things you can achieve on your own; they’re the natural result of God’s Spirit working within you.
God’s love is unconditional, sacrificial, and steadfast.
As you lean into relationship with God, the fruits of the Spirit become evidence of His presence in your life. Love is the outward sign of an inward transformation. When you pursue God’s purpose for your life, love anchors you, strengthens you, and keeps you aligned with His will.
Take time today to reflect on how God’s love has shaped your life. Where do you see it —your relationships, your thoughts, or your daily actions? As you open your heart to God’s Spirit, love will overflow into every area of your life, demonstrating His presence and glorifying His name.
Today’s One Thing
Thank God for the love He has given you, and declare, “I am filled with God’s love through the Spirit, and His love flows through me, producing patience, kindness, and gentleness as I trust Him and pursue His purpose.”