Love Is On Purpose

For the last three months I have been going through a study guide on the “fruits of the Spirit” mentioned in the Bible (Galatians 5:22,23). It was so practical and full of thoughts I had never encountered before. I don’t feel like I absorbed nearly enough of it, and I didn’t want the study to end! So I have decided to write something on each chapter of the study as a way to review and re-apply the thoughts to my life.

Gal. 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Gal. 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Gal. 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

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

One of the fruits (results, productions) of God’s Spirit is love.

Just what is love in “real life”?

I Corinthians 13 breaks down what love is and isn’t. After each phrase I tried to write what that might look like in “real life.”

“Love suffers long” - hold my tongue, listen, let others be wrong, be calm rather than frustrated

“is kind” - do and say nice things, be helpful, smile, touch, give of one’s self, be considerate

“rejoices with the truth” - praise, affirm, be cheerful, be happy for others, sing, have joy

“bears all things” - be uplifting to others (help), carry a portion of the work/burden of others

“believes all things” - be positive, trusting, not questioning other’s motives, have unconditional respect

“hopes all things” - won’t give up on people, keeps looking for the redemption of all, perseveres

“endures all things” - put up with..., keep a-going, carry on in love regardless of...

“does not envy” - content (satisfied & appreciative of what God has given), be happy for others, supportive

“does not parade itself” - modest (covered, not in shame but in propriety and wisdom), be still, be gently present

“is not puffed up” - humble/meek, willing to be nothing, real, point to Author of love rather than to self

“is not rude” - polite, becoming intelligent about other’s feelings and caring for them, think before speaking

“does not seek its own” - live to bless others, selfless, allow others to have their way, do God’s will rather than our own

“is not easily provoked” - calm, secure (no need to defend), forgiving, value God’s opinion more than other people’s

“thinks no evil” - esteem others better than yourself, look for the good and dwell on it rather than the bad, believe

“does not rejoice in iniquity” - be heartbroken over wrongs (iniquity), rejoice in rightness (point it out, praise the good, be thankful for it)

As I was considering these aspects of love the thought came to mind that love is “on purpose.” You can’t accidentally love. It is a choice, a decision, something you do on purpose.

Think about it. Do you hold your tongue on accident? Do you smile accidentally, or do kind things for people without a thought or a decision? Do we accidentally forgive someone?

Look through the list again and notice how these characteristics of love are all things that are “on purpose.”

So, a person can’t “fall in love” or be loving, accidentally. If we truly want to love, we must realize that love is on purpose - it’s a choice.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son...” that wasn’t an accident!

“As God so loved us, we also ought to love one another...” that won’t be an accident either!

Love is on purpose.