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I.  THE NATURE OF THIS LOVE.

II.  THE OBJECTS ON WHICH IT IS EXERCISED.

III.  THE MARKS OF IT.

I. The love which stands first in the apostle's catalogue stands first also in the estimate of God. Our Lord says, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment" (Romans 13:10). This is the grace of which so beautiful a description is given in 1 Corinthians 13. It is set forth as a privilege, without which all gifts are worthless. This love is no natural product of the human heart; on the contrary (Romans 8:7; 1 John 4:7).

II. The OBJECTS ON WHICH THIS LOVE IS EXERCISED. These are three principally —

1. The Father.

2. Christ the Son.

3. Our brother.

III. SOME MARKS OF THIS LOVE.

1. As regards God.

(1)  In the desire to be like Him — holy in all manner of conversation (Ephesians 5:1).

(2)  In aiming at His glory.

(3)  In delighting in communion with Him.

2. As regards Christ. Love shows itself —

(1)  In obedience (John 14:15).

(2)  In loving Christ still, though Providences be dark, and all things seem against us.

3. As regards the saints, love shows itself especially.

(1)  In praying one for another.

(2)  Bearing one another's burden, entering into their troubles, helping and sympathising.

(3)  By forbearing and forgiving one another, "even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you."

(J. Reeve, M. A.)

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KJV: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

WEB: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,