The Spirit Of God And Love

"We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." (1 John 4:6)

We are always under the influence of a spirit. There is no such thing as a spiritless person. “For as the body without the spirit is dead” (James 2:26a). We may not realize it or be aware of it, but all of us are spirit filled. But which spirit are we filled with?

Spiritually speaking, there is no such a thing as a vacuum. Even the repentant, clean, and the “good person”, if they don’t bring the Holy Spirit into their heart, they will be filled by the spirit of error. There is no middle ground. A no choice is a choice.

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” (Luke 11:24-26)

The spirit within makes manifest without. The spirit of truth manifests truth in thought, desire, and deed. The spirit of error does likewise, making manifest its nature and essence.

The fruit of the spirit of God manifests love, joy, and peace and is demonstrated by a person’s manner and way of life.

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:7-9)

Love is the cornerstone of our religion. You can’t help but love when filled with the spirit of Christ.

Bill Hitchcock