I just came home from a wonderful retreat at Lake Lanier with my Grace Ladies Sunday School Class. It was our third annual GIGGLE Tour (Growing in God: Grace Ladies Escape). Words cannot fully describe the experience. We giggled, of course, but it was so much more than that. We spent time together growing our friendships, but more importantly, we grew closer to the Lord. It was life-changing for me, and I am sure I am not the only one.

Our theme this year was the Fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Love was the centerpiece of our study and of our time together. Without love, the other Fruits of the Spirit would not be possible. Without love, the bond that our special group of ladies has would not be possible. God is love. It is all about Him.

God never asks anything of us to make Himself look better. The demands He makes on our lives are not for His gain. We cannot make Him any more God than He is, and He would not be less the Lord of Lords if we did not believe in Him. He has one major objective in His every urging and exhortation to us. He wants us to experience the pleasure of knowing, serving and sharing Him. It is because He loves us with an everlasting love. He reserves the sovereign right to be sole authority over our lives for our good, for our completion, for the conforming of our lives to that of His Son. This is how the Fruit of the Spirit works. We cannot develop these fruits, they come from Jesus oozing out from us into the lives of others. Jesus is the juice of our fruits. Without Him, the fruits of our efforts would be all dried up. Our part is to know Him, love Him, remember Him, and imitate Him. The rest is up to Him.

The same God who willed, spoke, and breathed the universe into existence sends His care and direction to our lives, because He loves us. God’s kind of love is foreign to us. How can we genuinely desire the best for our enemies? How can we love the unlovely? How can we forgive people who are not asking to be forgiven. God’s love through us is the only way. Only love can change us so that we become people who love. Only He can produce the fruit of agape love, “God love,” in our lives.

Jesus’ entire ministry was characterized by love. The greatest demonstration of love in history was when He sacrificed Himself for us on the cross. Jesus is a divine being with the Father. He sacrificed His heavenly power and glory to become a human being and subject Himself to painful humiliation, suffering and death for the sake of mankind. (Philippians 2:5-11) While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) He loved us when we were unlovely. On the cross, He asked the Father to forgive us.

In John 13, the Bible gives the loving account of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet at the Last Supper. Knowing He was facing a painful death on the cross and would soon be leaving the disciples to go to the Father did not deter Him.  He rose from dinner, wrapped a towel around Himself, knelt and washed and dried the feet of the disciples. Then He asked them if they understood what He had done for them. “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than His master, nor is a messenger greater than the One who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13: 14-16) He calls us not only to love Him, but to show love to one another.

Jesus was the greatest example, and He lived the Fruits of the Spirit every day of His life on earth. Christ was filled with JOY at the prospect of “bringing many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10). He was called the “Prince of PEACE” (Isaiah 9:6). While suffering a painful death, Jesus showed the PATIENT endurance to pray for those who were tormenting Him. (Luke 23:34) He showed KINDNESS to Malchus, the high priest’s servant, after Peter cut His ear off. Even while being arrested, He healed his ear, making the man whole again (Luke 22:51). He is the GOOD Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep. (John 10:11). He continues today as “a merciful and FAITHFUL High Priest.“ (Hebrews 2:17). He is GENTLE and lowly in heart.” (Matthew 11:29). In the greatest show of SELF-CONTROL ever exhibited, Jesus did not call 10,000 angels to destroy the world and set Himself free as He hung bleeding, suffering, humiliated and dying on the cross for you and for me. LOVE HAD EVERYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

Dear Lord: Thank You for Your unspeakable love for us, that You would give Your only Son as a sacrifice for us. You loved us when we were unlovely. We do not deserve that kind of love, but I sure am thankful for it. Help us to show Your love to others. Thank You for growing the fruits in our lives. Amen

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as Your Savior, I urge you to accept Him today. Pray this simple prayer, but only if you mean it in your heart. “Dear Lord, I am a sinner. I know that Your Son Jesus came to earth as a man, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross to save me from my sins.  Please come into my heart and forgive me of my sins. I now commit to live my life for You. Amen”

Next, share this good news with a Pastor or Sunday School teacher who can direct you to support to be discipled so you can grow in your walk with the Lord. Feel free to send me a private message as well. Info about my church is at www.blueridgeviewbaptist.com. We would love to have you join us there next Sunday!

Thank you for reading and sharing my blogpost. May God wrap you in His arms of love today, and through Him may there be many Fruits of the Spirit grow in your life that ooze His love to others.