Virtue: Love
Scripture: John 3:1-21
For God so loved the world… This is likely the most known verse of the entire Bible: John 3:16. God’s love for the world led Him to a cross, to death. It is an exchange that gave us life and light.
Love is an affectionate and rugged commitment to be with someone and for someone. This is what we see in God’s love: His affection for us, His rugged commitment toward us, that He became a human to be with us, and that He did all this for us. This love has it’s fullness on display with Jesus on the cross.
God’s love goes another step further, though. God’s love is not just His step to reach out to us. God’s love is given to us to transform us into Christlikeness. His love forgives us; His love transforms us; His love makes us become like Him. His love is what begins to define who we are, what we do, where we go, who we become, and so much more.
If, for you, God’s love stops at forgiveness, you are missing out. God’s love is meant to transform who you are so that you look like God. You live in the light, you love like Jesus. This is what the goal of love is: to become like Him.
Accepting the love of God is accepting a journey with a goal. It’s not a destination; it’s the starting line. Receive His love to become like Him.
Questions:
1. Why do you think love needs a goal of becoming like Jesus?
2. How does God’s love show up in your life through a normal week?
3. What has Jesus been teaching you this last week about the virtues of the fruit of the Spirit?
Action:
Remember, a virtue is not something we can just will ourselves into. It is the excellence of God on display in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Invite the Holy Spirit to help you through this action, and join with other believers to do this action with:
Today is Sunday. If you haven’t already, today’s action is to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus in worship with the body of Christ. If, for some reason, you cannot go to worship at your home church today, worship with another congregation at their church. If that is not possible, worship with your family or other believers: sing together, read scripture together, and pray together. Celebrate the resurrection and the new life we are brought into by the love of Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I receive your love, your life, and your light. I receive it so that I can become transformed by you. I ask for your grace to help me live all these fruits of your spirit. Help me to live a virtuous life through your power and love working in me.
Amen
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