Imagine a world where everyone loved like Jesus instructed us to. A world where love wasn’t just a feeling or emotion but a daily choice, an active way of life. Our world would look so different: less division, more unity; less coldness, more warmth; less hate, more peace.
Love is the greatest of the nine Fruit of the Spirit, and it’s the foundation of our existence. In my book, Stella Strawberry: The Fruit of Love, I teach children that “This Fruit of the Spirit is number one, God says that we should love everyone.” It’s a simple but profound truth. Love is the first, most important, and most impactful fruit.
The Bible speaks to this profound love in John 13:34-35 NLT:
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
And in 1 Corinthians 13:13, the Apostle Paul reminds us:
“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”
“It’s important that we give love. Anytime is right. Without love in our heart, our light won’t shine as bright. We’d go about our days angry, tense, or sad, but showing love to everyone will surely make you glad”, says Stella Strawberry.
God is love, and love is His most beautiful, powerful, and significant gift to us. It’s what shapes us, sustains us, and connects us to Him and to one another.
Loving Beyond Limits
The truth is, true love doesn’t discriminate. It extends beyond friends to enemies. It crosses boundaries of race, color, background, belief, and even sin. We love not because it’s always easy, but because we were first loved by God and He calls us to love too. Our love is a response, a gratitude that shows God’s Word means everything to us.
Sadly, the world often shows more hate than love, more separation than unity. But as believers, we are called to be different and to demonstrate the love that sees no differences between us. A love that brings peace, joy, unity and harmony.
John 15:17 NLT says:
“This is my command: Love each other.”
This command is not optional. It is the mark of true discipleship. When we love like Jesus, we become a light in the darkness.
What We Gain and Lose Through Love
Loving others brings immeasurable blessings. We gain peace in our hearts, deeper relationships, and the joy of reflecting God’s character. Love heals wounds, builds bridges, and transforms lives.
On the contrary, is there more to lose when we don’t choose love? What do we lose by refusing to love? We lose connection, we lose relationships in our lives that matter, we lose joy, peace, and the fullness of life God intends for us. Without love, our hearts grow cold and hard, our light dims, and we miss out on the very purpose God created us for.
Final Thoughts
Love like Jesus isn’t just a nice idea or something nice to do. It’s a revolutionary call to action. It is the fruit that proves we belong to Him. It changes how we see others, how we impact others, and how we live each day.
Let us embrace love wholeheartedly, showing it freely, fiercely, and faithfully. Because in love, we find the true reflection of God’s heart…and a world transformed.