Week 45 (2 - 8 Nov): Love - A Spiritual Fruit
Bryan preached a powerful message last Saturday. He started his sharing by reminding us that if we have powerful spiritual gifts but do not have love, they are ultimately empty. Love is the fruit of the Spirit, and it is meant to be manifested in each and every one of us.
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practise hospitality." (Romans 12:9–13)
Genuine love is completely sincere, transparent and free from deceit or hidden motives. It shows up in our daily lives through sharing, caring for those in need and remaining faithful to one another. Love is more than just kind words; it calls for tangible service, sacrifice and a willingness to meet the real needs of others.
What does love in action look like? There are several ways. We meet the physical needs of those around us, providing food for the hungry and clothing for those who need them. We sacrifice our own resources, giving our time, effort and money to benefit someone else in need. We show up during hardship, offering a helping hand during times of crisis and grief, and listening without judgement. Finally, we choose kindness over retaliation, extending grace, patience and assistance even to those who may not seem deserving of it, or who have been unkind and have wronged us.
Love is therefore not just a feeling, but an action that is demonstrated through our relationships with others. Yet, we cannot produce this kind of genuine love through our own strength alone. Human love is often conditional, limited by our resources, time and energy.
In John 3:16, God has shown us that we are already deeply loved, without having to earn or give anything in return. As 1 John 4:19 reminds us, "We love because he first loved us."
It is through our relationship with God and our total surrender of our lives to Him, in hope, faith and prayer, that we find the freedom to live and love without a mask.
The Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit in us, empowering and transforming our hearts and attitudes. What may initially feel like an obligation becomes genuine love and joy. We are no longer loving simply because we ought to, but because God's love is at work within us.
During last Monday's AG session, Bryan and Jordan transformed the session into a travelogue, using a combination of videos and photographs to transport students and teachers to Turkey and Egypt. They focused on sharing the joyful moments and interesting experiences from their travels. The students were engaged in a lively Q&A session, filled with enthusiasm and excitement. We even had the opportunity to sample some sweet delights brought back from Turkey!
Beyond the treats themselves, I was struck by the intentional effort, time and care that went into preparing and sharing them. It reflected their desire to share their experiences, love and joy with the students.
It was a simple yet meaningful expression of genuine love. Through these thoughtful gestures, relationships were nurtured, not just with the students but also within the wider community.
In conclusion, here are my takeaways from Bryan's message:
Love must be genuine and sincere.
Love is demonstrated through our relationships and actions.
Genuine love is empowered by the Holy Spirit.
We are able to love genuinely as we surrender our lives to God.
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)
Ultimately, genuine love is not just about how we feel towards others, but how we choose to respond to them. It is about choosing goodness over evil, grace over retaliation and love over indifference.
May we continue to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, so that our love will be genuine, without hypocrisy or pretence, and that it will be seen not merely in our words, but in the way we live and relate to one another.
On behalf of the Chinese HF,
Sandie
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