“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8).

I awakened this morning singing, “They’ll Know We Are Christians [By Our Love],” written by Peter Scholtes. As born-again believers we are chosen to re-present Christ in the earth. The Word of God says that we are “epistles known and read of all men” (2 Corinthians 3:2). At the moment of our salvation our lives became an open book for others to read. Once we accepted Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, we were spiritually re-positioned to access our God-given potential that had been waiting to manifest in power and demonstration through us. However, this God-given potential that works in us is not given for us to demonstrate His power only, through the working of miracles, signs, and wonders; but most importantly to demonstrate His poise.

Poise is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as “graceful and elegant bearing in a person; composure and dignity of manner; be or cause to be balanced and suspended.” What good is it to demonstrate the power of God without the “poise” of Christ? Matthew 7:16 states, “You will know them [false prophets] by their fruit.” Galatians 5:22-23 identifies the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, forebearance, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

The way to recognize the false from the real is by the fruit that is revealed.

“You will know them by their fruit,” and “love” is the very first on the list. I am not implying that it is the most important, because all are of equal importance and should be demonstrated through the believer. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a gives us the characteristics of love:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

Let us seek to love one another with the love of Christ. As we re-present His “poise” to the world, I believe we will begin to see more of His fruit reproduced in the earth. When we introduce love to others, we re-introduce God to others. After all, the Word of God declares, “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

Blessings!

Prophetess Jocelyn