Scripture Reading: John 14:15-27
Everything in Christian life is love. “The fruit of the Spirit is love.” There are other things that are mentioned as fruit, but love is named first, and all the others are only parts or qualities of love. The one white ray of light is resolved into the seven colors of the rainbow. So love, the white ray that shines from the face of God, separates itself into all the heavenly graces. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance” (Gal. 5:22, 23).
Love is the one essential in the life which the Holy Spirit produces. Paul tells us we may have great eloquence, tongues of angels, the gift of prophecy, faith that can move mountains, generosity that will give all we possess, the martyr’s spirit; and yet, if we have not love we are nothing. Men have been champions of orthodoxy, and yet, lacking love, given to anger, evil temper, and resentment. There are those who are devoted to the institutions of religion and who yet fail to show love at home. These do not meet the highest requirement of the gospel. Nothing but love can satisfy the demands of the Holy Spirit.
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