Abiding in Love
From the Desk of Pastor Owens
Scripture
Epistle to the Galatians 5:22
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love…”
Reflection
Love is not just something we try harder to do—it is something God produces in us when we stay connected to Him.
That was the heart of Sunday’s message: love is the evidence of abiding.
We often measure spiritual growth by what we do—how much we serve, give, or accomplish. But God measures differently. He looks at what is being produced in us.
And the first sign of a Spirit-led life is love.
Not surface-level love.
Not conditional love.
But a deep, consistent, Christ-like love.
The kind of love that:
calls us forward (like Jesus did with Peter)
restores us when we fail
shows mercy when it’s undeserved
and keeps reaching, even when we pull away
This love doesn’t come from striving—it comes from abiding.
Just like a branch doesn’t struggle to produce fruit, we don’t have to force love. We simply stay connected to the source.
Key Thought
You cannot produce what you are not connected to.
If love feels difficult, strained, or inconsistent, it may not be a discipline issue—it may be a connection issue.
Application
Today, focus less on trying to “be more loving” and more on staying connected to God.
Ask yourself:
Have I spent time with God today?
Am I allowing His Word to shape my heart?
Am I responding to people out of His love or my emotions?
Then take one intentional step:
Show kindness where it’s not expected
Forgive someone who hurt you
Reach out to someone who may need encouragement
Let love move from internal to visible.
Prayer
“God, thank You for loving me with a love that never fails. Teach me to abide in You daily, so that Your love can flow through me. Help me to reflect Your heart in how I treat others—through patience, grace, and compassion. Let my life be evidence that I am connected to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Closing Encouragement
Love is not something you have to chase. It grows naturally when you remain in Him. So today—stay connected, and let love flow.
