The Indwelling Spirit Of Love

 by Horatius Bonar (1808-89)


Horatius Bonar was a Scottish Presbyterian minister and hymn writer.

 

As possessors of the Spirit of love, we must be loving, laying aside all malice and guile, and hypocrisies, and evil-speaking; discharging daily the one debt that is never to be paid (Rom. 13:8). For the indwelling Spirit is not idle or barren, but produces fruit, divine fruit in human hearts, heavenly fruit on earthly soil, fruit which indicates its inner source, and tells of the glorious Guest within; for“the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law”(Gal. 5:22-23).

 

Let us maintain unblunted the edge of our relish for prayer and fellowship with God, as the great preservative against the seductions of the age; for only intimacy with God can keep us from intimacy with the world.

 

Let us be on our guard against old self in every form, whether it be indolence, or temper, or coldness, or rudeness, or disobligingness, or slovenliness, or shabbiness, or covetousness, or flippancy, or self-conceit, or pride, or cunning, or obstinacy, or sourness, or levity, or foolishness, or love of pre-eminence. Let us cultivate a tender conscience, watching against the commission of little sins, and the omission of little duties; redeeming the time, yet never in a hurry; calm, cheerful, frank, happy, genial, generous, unselfish, and thoughtful of others.

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