“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” Galatians 5:22-23

The gift of love is one of the most important gifts we’re given and one of the most important gifts we can give. In it we discover that joy is love’s symphony. Peace is love’s repose. Patience is love’s waiting. Kindness is love’s labour. Goodness is love’s measure. Faithfulness is love’s stick ability. Gentleness is love’s conduct. And self-control is love’s endurance. Each element is a vital piece of a beautiful whole (cf. Galatians 5:22-23).

The story is told of a grade two class who was asked to draw a picture of something that reminded them of a teacher in their school who had recently passed away. One youngster took a sheet of paper and a wax crayon and coloured the entire paper red. When asked why he’d done so, he explained, “I wanted to draw a picture of her heart but it was too big for the paper.”

If we were to take all the paper in the world and all the red crayons and colour every page red we’d still not be able to draw a heart big enough to illustrate the unconditional love the Father has for us.

As F. M. Lehman so eloquently wrote:

“Could we with ink the ocean fill,

And were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill,

And every man a scribe by trade;

To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry;

Nor could the scroll contain the whole,

Though stretched from sky to sky.”

What a God! He’s loved us completely and expressed it openly. His love is given regardless of any merit we may or may not have. And it’s given in infinite measure so that we can enjoy an endless supply. Not that we should be sponges soaking it all up. As we’ve received from Him we should likewise pass it on. We should give love as generously as He’s given it to us. The gift of love should be a part of who we are in such a way as to be a reflection of whom we serve. So lavish it on others. Fill your words and define your actions by it. For God will always give you more than you can give away.