Leading with Love: The Foundation of Spiritual Fruit

In a world filled with division and compromise, how do we stand out as Christians? The answer lies in the fruit we bear. The Fruit of the Spirit serves as a powerful indicator of whether we’re getting this Christianity thing right. It’s not about denominational differences or competing beliefs—Jesus made it clear that the fruit in our lives will show how we’re doing in our faith journey.

What are the Fruits of the Spirit?

Galatians 5:22-23 tells us: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things.”

These fruits aren’t behaviors we learn to perform—they’re evidence of what’s happening inside us. They work from the inside out because they come from the Spirit. God wants us to have all these fruits in abundance: more love, more joy, more peace, more patience. But notice where the list begins—with love.

Why is love the first fruit mentioned?

Love is mentioned over 600 times in Scripture. It’s a central theme running through the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation. When Jesus was asked to summarize all the commandments, He gave two: love God with your whole heart, mind, and soul, and love people.

Love is the verb of the Bible—it’s an action, something we choose. The secret to leading with love isn’t what you say but how you live. We need to love well in order to live well. In a culture of compromise, we can’t make a difference if we’re not different.

How does love serve as a foundation?

Think about the Masters golf tournament, where the grass is meticulously manicured and the greens are considered some of the fastest on the planet. This doesn’t happen by simply throwing out seed and water—it requires a proper foundation with multiple layers.

Similarly, if we’re going to bear the rest of the fruits of the Spirit, we need to be founded in love. Jesus showed us what it looks like to live with love. He’s the perfect example.

The danger of religion versus relationship

In Galatians, Paul addresses a church struggling with a religious versus relationship mindset. Some were trying to follow rules and laws to earn God’s favor rather than living in the grace of Christ.

Paul writes in Galatians 5:1-4: “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law… If you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ. You have fallen away from God’s grace.”

When we try to earn our way to God through rules and knowledge, we’re eating from the wrong tree. Learned behavior is an obligation, not a joy. We end up struggling with the desires of our sinful nature, which leads to things like hostility, jealousy, division, and selfishness.

How do we cultivate love in our lives?

The answer is simple but profound: fall in love with Jesus. The more you become like Christ, it becomes not about what you have to do but who you are. Then all the other fruits naturally begin to appear.

Christianity isn’t just something to be intellectually understood—it’s someone to be personally experienced. The greatest proof of Christianity is a changed life, which happens through an authentic encounter with God.

John 15 reminds us: “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”

What does it mean that “God is love”?

Our culture often says “love is love,” suggesting that love is undefined and can mean whatever feels right. But Scripture tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). This means God sets the standard—love isn’t just something He does; it’s who He is.

If God is love, then His attributes and character define love. Love cannot be undefined. Love is not a feeling; it’s a choice. God’s love is pure, holy, unchanging, and sacrificial. It’s not just about approval—it’s transformational.

Love leads to presence

Zephaniah 3:17 says, “For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

God is present with us. He gives us many gifts, but His greatest gift is His presence. Similarly, if we’re going to love well, we need to show up. We need to be present in our relationships.

Love leaves a legacy

You can say the right things and even serve in big ways, but if love isn’t the root and foundation, it won’t bear fruit. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that without love, our actions are just noise.

Children remember more how we lived our lives and how we loved than the things we tried to teach them. More is caught than taught. They watch us when we don’t even know they’re watching, and they imitate what they see.

Life Application

This week, consider how you can lead with love in your daily life:

• Examine your foundation: Is love the foundation of your spiritual life? Are you trying to earn God’s favor through rules, or are you living in His grace?
• Fall in love with Jesus: Spend time in His presence. Read His Word. Talk to Him. Let your relationship with Him transform you from the inside out.
• Be present: Show up for the people in your life. Your presence speaks volumes about your love.
• Leave a legacy: Remember that your actions speak louder than your words. What legacy of love are you creating?

Ask yourself:

• Am I trying to produce fruit through my own efforts, or am I remaining connected to the vine?
• In what areas of my life do I need to let God’s love transform me?
• Who in my life needs me to show up and be present this week?
• What am I modeling for others through how I live my life?

Love is what led Jesus to the cross. Let love lead you in everything else.