Love — Fruit of the Spirit
Love is often spoken of as a feeling—something that arrives suddenly or fades without warning. Scripture, however, tells a quieter and more demanding truth. Love, as the Spirit forms it, does not begin with emotion. It begins with choice.
In Galatians 5, love is named first among the Fruit of the Spirit, not because it is the easiest to recognize, but because it is the soil from which all the others grow. Love is not a reaction to circumstances; it is a posture shaped by faith. It is planted quietly, often unnoticed, in the small decisions of daily life.
Love takes root in faithfulness—showing up when it would be easier to withdraw.
It is planted in forgiveness—choosing release over resentment, again and again.
It grows in acts of obedience; no one applauds and no one records.
This kind of love does not announce itself. It is rarely impressive. But it is real.
Like any living thing, love must be tended. It cannot be rushed or forced into bloom. It grows slowly, shaped by patience and humility, sustained by care that returns day after day. Love matures when we choose gentleness over sharpness, listening over defense, presence over convenience.
There are seasons when love feels fragile—when progress seems invisible, and effort feels costly. Scripture reminds us that growth is not measured by speed, but by faithfulness. Fruit appears in its proper time, not on demand.
When love is allowed to grow, it does not remain contained. True love is never meant to be kept for ourselves. It is given.
It is shared at the table, where hospitality becomes a form of grace.
It is offered in service, where hands work quietly for the good of others.
It is poured out in ordinary moments—through care, attention, and sacrifice that expects nothing in return.
This outward movement of love is not something we manufacture. Scripture makes the order clear: “We love because He first loved us.” Love does not originate in us. It flows through us.
The love the Spirit grows within us is rooted in abiding—remaining connected to Christ. When we live close to Him, His love becomes the source that sustains our own. Without that connection, love becomes effort-heavy and quickly exhausted. With it, love nourishes both the giver and the receiver.
This is why love is named first. Not because it is simple, but because it is foundational. All other fruit—joy, peace, patience, kindness—draw strength from it. Love shapes how faith is lived, not as performance, but as presence.
The Fruit of the Spirit is not a list to be completed. It is a life to be cultivated. Love, formed slowly and faithfully, becomes both evidence of the Spirit’s work and a gift offered freely to the world.
This is Love—the first Fruit of the Spirit.
If this reflection was meaningful to you, you are welcome to continue walking with us through the Fruit of the Spirit series here at The Cardinal and Dove. You may read slowly, return often, and allow the Spirit’s work to unfold in its time.
