Category: Daily Blogs

Our testimony and our witness are enhanced when we manifest the love of God to our world.

Can you imagine what a difference would be made in our lives, our families, our churches and our communities if we would love as He loved us?

God’s love is what the Apostle Paul described as an unfeigned love; that is a love that is without hypocrisy. (1 Corinthians 6:6 KJV)

Garvin R. Alfter

“Love must be without hypocrisy.” –Romans 12:9 HCSB

“Let love be genuine.” –Romans 6:9 ESV

“The very first Christ-like characteristic we are to manifest is love! This kind of love goes beyond our love for God and His Word. It also deals with our love for people. It could be said that the truest measure of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives can be found in the way that we treat people.”

Garvin R. Alfter

“By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.” –John 13:35

It is important to understand that He is the vine and we are the branches. We are not asked to be the root or trunk that supports the work of the Spirit. That is the work of the Vine, namely Jesus Christ. As branches we are simply asked to bear the fruit of the Spirit. Apple trees don’t produce oranges; grape trees don’t produce figs; pear trees don’t produce peaches. Likewise, the fruit that we bear is to be consistent with the seed that is placed within us.

“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” –John 15:1-5

Manifesting the fruit of the Spirit in our lives doesn’t happen over night, but rather it is a lifetime process that involves:

Planting — The Word of God is sown in our lives.

Nourishing — We continue to attend church, pray, study God’s Word.

Cultivating — We allow God’s Word to convict us of attitudes and actions that are un-Christ-like and repent.

Harvesting — We begin to realize there has been a change of character in our lives. Things that used to get a negative reaction from us don’t have the same effect.

Reproducing — Others see the change and begin to follow us as we follow Christ.

When this process is active in our lives we have a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.

“The Bible compares our daily Christian walk to a vine, it’s branches, and the bearing of fruit. God’s purpose being fulfilled in our lives can be measured by the amount of “spiritual” fruit that manifests itself in our daily walk with God.”

Garvin R. Alfter

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance… .” –Galatians 5:22 (KJV)