Love-the first Fruit of the Spirit
By Pamalia Culvern
Pamalia continues to thrive in Madison, Georgia. New to the empty-nest phase of life, she has taken up writing and continues volunteer work with Young Life and the local high school mentoring program.

People define love in various ways. Love is probably the most popular subject for songs. It has been the rise and the fall of many. Love is a many splendid thing so the song goes. Like a rose, it can be beautiful, but the thorns are as much a part of love as the bud. As believers, we know that the ‘Love’ chapter from God’s Word is 1 Corinthians 13.

“Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hope all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”

I once heard a pastor say to insert your name where you see the word love. I remember trying it and then realizing how comical that was. I’d fallen far, far short. And yet God knew that already. Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Well, at least I’m in good company.

There is a verse in Romans chapter 5, verse 6 that states that while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Verse 8 continues and expands on this train of thought claiming that God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Isn’t that amazingly good news?

I think I find these verses so comforting because if God can love me when He sees me at my worst and then follow through with such a selfless act of love for me and the whole world, well, that brings a remarkable, unshakable assurance to my soul. I can trust His love and know in the depths of my heart that His love truly never fails.

We all know Judas as the disciple chosen to betray Christ. A few years ago I was studying this event in his life. Why did Judas get such a bad rap? I mean, suppose I had been chosen to betray Christ. I remember pleading with God to know the truth about Judas’s act. After seeking and praying for an answer, this is what I heard in my spirit that night. “Judas tried to ‘kill’ what he’d done by giving the money back and ending his life but I killed what he did on the Cross.” As the answer so full of love and forgiveness sank into my heart I wept.

A few weeks later I’d heard about a conference at a little country church in Douglasville, Ga. A teacher by the name of Harold Lovelace was going to be there and I was dying to meet him. You see, I’d read his book on God’s Plan for Creation and it had touched my life and opened my eyes to many truths I hadn’t been able to see before.

I drove the 93 mile trek and upon arriving I remember thinking ‘this can’t possibly be it…why this is a dump.’ The Lord asked me why I was judging with my senses. They limit us in more ways than we can imagine. I understood God was absolutely right and I immediately chose to stay. Little did I know God had prepared me for quite an awakening.

Folks were being asked to share in 15-minute intervals. I was so thrilled when it was Harold’s turn. I had slipped out of my shoes and was very comfortable in my little country pew when suddenly I realized Harold had called me up to the podium to say a few words. I was devastated! I’m a perfectionist and I hadn’t prepared anything at all. As I slipped into my shoes I said, “Lord, you are in charge. Whatever comes out of my mouth is going to be your words because I am as blank as a white canvas.” As I began to speak I heard the story of Judas coming out. I was telling the lesson God had spoken to my spirit that precious night.

The words flowed like water from a brook. They were clear and concise. It definitely was God because I’m a bit longwinded when I’m nervous. Afterwards the women had prepared desserts and coffee so everyone gathered in the small cramped room in the back. Harold invited me to sit with him and he told me that he had a little nugget I could add to my story. He told me that Jewish tradition held it that whoever sopped the bread in the wine at the Passover was considered the guest of honor. He asked me, “Pam, who sopped the bread that night?” I said, “Judas did”. There was a joyful silence as I tried to take it in. Imagine, Judas being the guest of honor. The one who would betray our Christ was the guest of honor! Why that’s backwards from man’s economy. God’s love is beyond description, and His ways are much higher than our ways.

The associate pastor stopped by and tapped me on the shoulder and told me he had a little gem I could add to my story. It seems when he studied the betrayal of Christ, he came across the scripture where Jesus said “Go and do that which ye must quickly.” He said he’d realized that Judas was under direct order from our Lord. Christ understood that God’s will would be done that night. Christ had surrendered His own will. I think I was 5 feet off the ground by now. God had sent me two confirmations, but do you know He wasn’t finished?

A precious lady in her 70’s came up and told me that she was so thankful that I had shared the message about Judas. God had been teaching her the same thing and she was prepared to share it that very night, but when God arranged for me to share it, I became a confirmation to her.

So you see, God’s love is boundless. No one and no thing is beyond His reach. Now rest in His abundant, unending, and merciful love. Love is the first fruit of the Spirit and is the vine from which all other fruits branch outward.

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