If you started humming an old Tina Turner song at the title, Jen would probably approve, but today’s episode has nothing to do with Tina’s famous song. Today we are diving deep into the first fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23: LOVE. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

In this episode, Jen and AJ talk about what they’ve learned about Biblical love through the years, what stood out for them during this part of their study, and practical ways to produce this fruit… plus MUCH MORE!

They discussed the fact that not all of us realize there are numerous words for LOVE in the New Testament. The fact that the scripture gets so specific is really helpful for our understanding of what love is. 

The Greek language, used in the New Testament, has at least four words to describe the various aspects of love:

Philia - friendship love

Storgē - familial love

Erōs - romantic or sexual love

Agapē - God’s love and the love that it was referred to in the fruit of the spirit

Agapē is the love that God displayed for us when He sent His son to die on the cross. It’s unconditional love, given whether it's returned or not. It’s unselfish. It allows for the good of the object of its love instead of your own good.

It's more than FROM God. It actually IS God. 

God is love.

So if God is in us, then love is in us. The more we get to know God, and the more we abide in Christ, the more that love flourishes and more of that unselfish sacrificial love is displayed to an on-looking world. We're able to shine that light and show the glory of God and the nature of God!

Here’s some encouragement: Even as a believer, it is impossible for you to demonstrate agape love in your own strength. But if you are a believer in Christ, you have this agape love within you! As a challenge and practical application, we encourage you to:

• Recognize that this is a fruit we can see manifested in our lives.  And the only way is to know God more, to be in the Word, praying, practicing spiritual disciplines.
• Focus on a Word study about love. If you're inside Sojo Academy, you have the opportunity to do that because it's part of our study this month. But if you are not in our membership, then find a way to practice this love - but do it knowing that it's not on your own fortitude. Recognize where this gift comes from: Christ in you. 

For Further Study

Read the Bible verses mentioned during the episode: 

John 3:16

1 John 4: 7-8

John 13:35

Look for the meanings of the 4 Greek words for LOVE.

If you want to go even further, join us for an in-depth study of the Fruit of the Spirit! You will have access to a Scripture Reading Plan, Workbooks, Live workshop, recording, special community, creative elements for journaling, and much much more. Get the details here: www.sojoacademy.com.