ABUNDANT LIFE AWAITS

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?