The fruit of the Spirit, as you find it in Galatians, begins with love. There are nine graces spoken of in Galatians 5, and of the nine, Paul puts love at the head of the list; love is the first thing in that precious cluster of fruit. Someone has put it this way: that all the other eight can be put in the word love. Joy is love exulting; peace is love in repose; longsuffering is love on trial; gentleness is love in society; goodness is love in action; faith is love on the battlefield; meekness is love at school; and temperance is love in training. So it is love all the way - love at the top, love at the bottom, and all the way along down these graces.
-The Secret of Success in the Christian Life, D. L. Moody
It is interesting to note that he refers to a "cluster of fruit." It is not various fruits (plural) but rather one fruit (singular). The reason for this is because it is only one Spirit. So I picture it, in a way, as a cluster of grapes. It is one fruit yet with several small outlets. Even so I thought it was very interesting to note that love should head up the list. Notice that God never spoke of Himself as being any of these other virtues. Of Himself He only said - "God is love."
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