
ABUNDANT LIFE AWAITS
If I have not love, it profits me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3
Reflecting on the connection between love and virtue, I’ve wondered—Is it possible to have one without the other?
Virtue without love is sour lemons.
Love without virtue is a one night stand.
Authentic love and virtue are rare attributes in our time.
So what do these look like in real life?
How do we activate these twin markers of the spirit-filled life.
Love is the heart of every Christian virtue. A wise man of God offers this insight—
Justice without love is legalism
Faith without love is ideology
Hope without love is self-centeredness
Forgiveness without love is self-abasement
Fortitude without love is recklessness
Generosity without love is extravagance
Care without love is mere duty
Fidelity without love is servitude.
Every virtue is an expression of love.
We cannot grow in virtue if we do not grow in love.
If I never learn to love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2
In order to grow in Christ-likeness, we must first grow in love.
If each of these attributes represents a virtue spectrum, where do you see yourself along each one?
WITH LOVE___________WITHOUT LOVE
JUSTICE_________________ LEGALISM
FAITH __________________ IDEOLOGY
HOPE___________SELF-CENTEREDNESS
FORGIVENESS _______SELF-ABASEMENT
FORTITUDE___________RECKLESSNESS
GENEROSITY_________EXTRAVAGENCE
CARE _______________________DUTY
FIDELITY________________SERVITUDE
Where would you most like to see God’s love lead you into more abundant life?
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