Radical Love

I find myself overwhelmed by the fact that all of existence is an overflowing of and outpouring of God's love. Literally every aspect of existence is founded on love. And, through the work of God on the cross in Jesus, we are invited to be eternally sustained through His love.

Founded in love; sustained through love.
Love truly is the source of all things; the root of all things.

Without love, a radical life becomes harmful and destructive at best.

 It's no surprise then, that when encouraging a life marked by living according to the radical fruit of the Spirit, Paul begins His list with love,

"But the fruit of the Spirit is:
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control..."

(Galatians 5:22-23)

I don't believe that this was an accidental ordering by Paul, but rather one of strategic intention.  I mean, would we really be able to fully produce all of the other fruit listed, without first and foremost being deeply and intimately rooted in God's love? What is joy, if not founded on love? What is peace, if not connected with love? What is patience, if not driven by love? What is kindness, if not flowing from love? What is goodness, if not inspired by love? What is faithfulness, if not motivated by love? What is gentleness, if not encompassed by love? What is self-control, if not perfected by love?

Nothing that we could ever do or become holds any worth if not rooted in, founded upon, overflowing from, and encompassed by love. But what exactly is love by the Holy Spirit's standard of love? Can our world comprehend such a love as it was intended to be comprehended by the true source of love?

Join me through a deeper examination of Holy Spirit love throughout the month of February.