“since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints” (Colossians 1:4)
The fruit of the Spirit is love. Not self-love; not love of the world’s cultures and values; not love merely as an emotional feeling. Rather, it’s a love for other people.
Paul was ecstatic to hear of their love for all the saints. It meant that the Spirit was working in them, and they were responding to the teaching of God. God was reproducing Himself in them, and they were being His helping hands in a needy world.
I’ve known how to be obnoxious, difficult, reclusive, and harsh with my lips. In addition, I’ve been a project-oriented person, doing things on my own. I want to build relationships with God and others. More and more, I watch what I say, because I know what impact my words can have, whether to heal or hurt, build or destroy. God’s word builds me up, and I know it can build up others as well, so I share it more.
To do:
- Tame my bad attitudes about other people, for they are made in the image of God.
- Guard my tongue, for I want to use words that will build healthy relationships.
- Don’t be miserly with my time, goods, or talents, for others need what I have to offer.
