Do you ever look at a field of wildflowers and marvel at the perfection it has? God‘s painting... in different heights, tones and dimensions singing in a chorus of color. What kind of seeds are we allowing to grow in our lives? What kind of fruit do we want to see? How do we begin?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law”
-Galatians 5:22-23
SEEDS
We all want to see the fruit of the spirit in our lives. So why not start planting it.
Seeds of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
LOVE
Defined: Strong affection due to kinship, tenderness and intimacy or admiration.
We love those that fit into these criteria. Whether family, spouse or a person we admire our affections are toward them.
So How do we as human beings love? There is a three-fold answer to that! We love with our heart, soul and might (spirit, soul and body). This is all of our being. We express is by dedication, adoring and sacrificing for those who are on the receiving end of our love. Let's look at what the Lord says about love.
HOW DO WE PLANT THE SEED?
The Lord wants us to love HIM, be dedicated to HIM, sacrifice for HIM, adore HIM.
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might" -Deuternonomy 6:5
This is where it all begins! Dedicating all of our love to the Lord and allowing HIM to dwell in us and love through us.
Heart: a place for the Lord to dwell
Soul: our emotions dedicated to him and his control
Might: our bodies submitted to him
If we love the Lord we will be able also to love like him! And he so loved the world that he gave it all that we might be saved!
GIVING THOSE WE LOVE TO HIM
My pastor always talks about the law of first mention in the Bible. This is supposed to help define, in Gods view, words in the Bible. In Genesis 22:2 God is speaking to Abraham and this is what he says:
"And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of."
The Lord is asking Abraham to give his son as an offering. That is such a HUGE thing to ask to our human minds...But because Abraham was obedient, God was able to bless him and provide a replacement.
GOD TOOK CARE OF ISAAC!
Think about what this means for us and what we should do with what we love. He wants us to give those we love to Him. He loves them more than we do. And we shouldn't fear what will happen 1 John 4:18:
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear......"
and GOD IS LOVE... so if God is involved fear cannot be present because he is perfect Love.
Let's love our people enough to commit them to the Lord and pray for them and strengthen each other!
HAPPY PLANTING!!
Growing in grace,
Marianne