THE apostle Paul wrote under inspiration about nine qualities that result from the action of holy spirit. (Gal. 5:22, 23) He described these desirable qualities as forming a whole​—“the fruitage of the spirit.” * This fruitage characterizes “the new personality.” (Col. 3:10) Just as a tree will bear fruit when it is properly tended, so a person will manifest the fruitage of the spirit when holy spirit flows freely in his life.​—Ps. 1:1-3.

The first aspect of the spirit’s fruitage that Paul listed is the precious quality of love. How precious is it? Paul said that without love, he was “nothing.” (1 Cor. 13:2) But just what is love, and how can we develop it and show it every day?

Although words cannot easily define the quality of love, the Bible describes the way it is expressed. For example, we read that love is “patient and kind.” Also, it “rejoices with the truth,” and it “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Love also involves a feeling of deep affection for others and a sincere concern for them, as well as a warm attachment to them. On the other hand, a lack of love is revealed by jealousy, pride, indecent behavior, selfishness, and a resentful, unforgiving attitude. Unlike such heartless and vain qualities, the love we desire to develop “does not look for its own interests.”​—1 Cor. 13:4-8.

“God is love.” Indeed, Jehovah is the very essence of love. (1 John 4:8) All his works and actions bear witness to his love. His greatest act of love toward mankind was that of sending Jesus to suffer and die for us. The apostle John stated: “By this the love of God was revealed in our case, that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we might gain life through him. The love is in this respect, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:9, 10) Because of God’s love, we can obtain forgiveness, hope, and life.

Jesus proved his love for mankind by willingly carrying out God’s will. Paul wrote: “[Jesus] says: ‘Look! I have come to do your will.’ . . . By this ‛will’ we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.” (Heb. 10:9, 10) No human could show greater love. Jesus said: “No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his life in behalf of his friends.” (John 15:13) Can we imperfect humans imitate the love shown to us by  Jehovah and Jesus? Yes! Let us consider how we can do so.

Paul exhorts us: “Become imitators of God, as beloved children, and go on walking in love, just as the Christ also loved us and gave himself for us.” (Eph. 5:1, 2) We “go on walking in love” when we manifest this quality in every aspect of our life. We show such love by actions rather than by words alone. John wrote: “Little children, we should love, not in word or with the tongue, but in deed and truth.” (1 John 3:18) For example, when we walk in love for God and neighbor, we will be moved to share the “good news of the Kingdom” with them. (Matt. 24:14; Luke 10:27) We also walk in love when we are patient, kind, and forgiving. Hence, the Bible counsels us: “Just as Jehovah freely forgave you, you must also do the same.”​—Col. 3:13.

Such genuine love, however, is not to be confused with sentimentality. For instance, to calm a crying child, a sentimental parent may cater to the child’s every whim. But the parent who truly loves his child will be firm when necessary. Likewise, God is love, but “those whom Jehovah loves he disciplines.” (Heb. 12:6) When we walk in love, we will also give proper discipline when needed. (Prov. 3:11, 12) Of course, in doing so we must remember that we too are sinful and prone to unloving acts. Thus, we all have areas in which we need to improve in showing love. How can we do this? Let us consider three ways.

First, ask God for his spirit, which produces love. Jesus stated that Jehovah gives “holy spirit to those asking him.” (Luke 11:13) If we pray for holy spirit and endeavor to “keep walking by spirit,” our actions will become more and more loving. (Gal. 5:16) For instance, if you are an elder in the Christian congregation, you can ask for holy spirit to help you to give Scriptural counsel to others in a loving manner. Or if you are a parent, you can request that God’s spirit help you to discipline your children, not in anger, but in love.

Second, reflect on how Jesus showed love even when provoked. (1 Pet. 2:21, 23) The need to think about Christ’s example may especially arise when we have been offended or have experienced an injustice. At such times, a good question to ask ourselves is, ‘What would Jesus do?’ A sister named Leigh found that considering this question helped her to think before acting. She relates: “Once, a coworker sent an e-mail to my colleagues with negative comments about me and the work I was doing. It hurt me deeply. But then I asked myself, ‘How can I imitate Jesus in dealing with this person?’ After reflecting on what Jesus would have done, I decided to let the matter go and not make an issue of it. Later, I learned that my coworker had been coping with a serious health problem and was under a lot of stress. I concluded that she probably did not really mean what she wrote. Reflecting on Jesus’ example of showing love even when provoked helped me to show similar love to my coworker.” Yes, if we imitate Jesus, we will always act with love.

Third, cultivate the spirit of self-sacrificing love, which is the identifying mark of true Christianity. (John 13:34, 35) In this regard, the Scriptures urge us to develop the same “mental attitude” that Jesus had. By leaving heaven, “he emptied himself” in our behalf, even “to the point of death.” (Phil. 2:5-8) As we imitate his self-sacrificing love, our thoughts and feelings will become more Christlike, and we  will be moved to place the interests of others ahead of our own. What further benefits come from cultivating love?

When we show love, the benefits are far-reaching. Consider two examples:

• AN INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD: Because of our love for one another, we know that no matter what congregation we may visit throughout the earth, the brothers and sisters will warmly welcome us. What a blessing it is to be loved by ‘the entire association of our brothers in the world’! (1 Pet. 5:9) Where else but among God’s people can such love be found?

• PEACE: “Putting up with one another in love” allows us to enjoy “the uniting bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:2, 3) We experience this peace firsthand at our congregation meetings, assemblies, and conventions. Would you not agree that such a peaceful spirit is truly unique in today’s divided world? (Ps. 119:165; Isa. 54:13) By pursuing peace with others, we demonstrate the depth of our love for them, which is pleasing to our heavenly Father.​—Ps. 133:1-3; Matt. 5:9.

Paul wrote: “Love builds up.” (1 Cor. 8:1) How does love do this? In the 13th chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians​—in what has been called the “Psalm of Love”—​the apostle explains how love builds up. For one thing, it seeks the other person’s advantage. (1 Cor. 10:24; 13:5) Additionally, because love is thoughtful, considerate, patient, and kind, it builds affectionate families and united congregations.​—Col. 3:14.

Our shared love for God is the most valuable and upbuilding love of all. Such love unites people of all backgrounds, races, and tongues in happy association to serve Jehovah “shoulder to shoulder.” (Zeph. 3:9) Let us be determined to show this precious aspect of the fruitage of God’s holy spirit every day.

E JEHOVA keghi ru iyobọ ne ukọ e Pọl ya gbẹn vbekpae akpa ihinrin ne ọmwa gha sẹtin gha mwẹ vbe orhiọn nọhuanrẹn ghaa loo ẹre. (Gal. 5:​22, 23) A keghi tie avbe akpa na ọmọ ne “orhiọn nọhuanrẹn biẹ.”  * Ọmọ erhan ọghe orhiọn nọhuanrẹn keghi re abọ ọkpa ọghe ‘akpa ọghe ọgbọn.’ (Kọl. 3:10) Zẹ vbene erhan ne a gbe amẹ khakha ya mọ ọmọ erhan nọ maan, erriọ ọmwa ne orhiọn nọhuanrẹn loo vbe arrọọ ọghẹe ya rhie akpa esi maan.​—⁠Psm. 1:​1-3.

Akpa nokaro ne Pọl yunu kaẹn keghi re ahoẹmwọmwa. Vbe ahọemwọmwa hiunsi sẹ hẹ? E Pọl keghi kha wẹẹ deghẹ irẹn i mwẹ ahoẹmwọmwa, emwi “kẹkan” ẹre irẹn khin. (1 Kọr. 13:⁠2) Vbe a mobọ ya ahoẹmwọmwa kha? Vbe ima khian ya sẹtin gha mwẹ ọnrẹn, ne ima vbe gha rhiẹre ma vbe ẹghẹ hia?

Ẹmwẹ ne unu i wa sẹtin rhan otọ evba ya ahoẹmwọmwa kha, sokpan e Baibol gie vbene a ya rhiẹre ma hẹ. Vbe igiemwi e Baibol khare wẹẹ, “te ahoẹmwọmwa zinegbe emwi, ọ vbe mwẹ itohan, emwi ẹmwata ẹre ọ sẹ ọre ọyẹnmwẹ, ẹtin i fo ahoẹmwọmwa ne ọ zobọ iyayi, idaehọ kevbe izinegbe ẹre i firaa.” Ọmwa nọ mwẹ ahoẹmwọmwa keghi mwẹ agiẹngiẹn daa emwa ọvbehe ọ vbe gha re ọse nọ gbe egbe ọmwa. Sokpan deghẹ ọmwa i mwẹ ahoẹmwọmwa, ọ gha gbọvo, ọ gha tengbemu, ọ gha yin uyinmwẹ nọ ma khianrẹn, ọ gha mwẹ ekhọe emwidamwẹ, ọ gha mu ohu nai mu yotọ, ẹi vbe yabọ. Ahoẹmwọmwa “ne emwi i da,” nẹi mu ọghe enegbe ẹre ye okaro, ẹre ọ khẹke ne ima gha rhiema.​—⁠1 Kọr. 13:​4-8.

“Ahọemwọmwa ẹre Osanobua khin.” Emwi hia nọ ru rhiẹre ma wẹẹ irẹn ẹre ọ gele re ahoẹmwọmwa. (1 Jọn 4:⁠8) Nọ ghi sẹ ehia ọre ne ọ na gie Jesu gha die agbọn nọ do rri oya kevbe nọ wu ye orukhọ ọghe ima. Ukọ e Jọn keghi kha wẹẹ: “Vbenian ọre Osanobua ya rhie ma vbene irẹn hoẹmwẹ ima hẹ: ọ keghi gie Ovbi ẹre ukpọmọkpa gha die agbọn ne ima sẹtin lekpa ẹre gha mwẹ arrọọ. Emwi ne ahoẹmwọmwa khin ọre ọ na khin, ẹi re wẹẹ, ma ka hoẹmwẹ Osanobua nẹ, sokpan wẹẹ, irẹn ẹre ọ hoẹmwẹ ima, ọ keghi gie Ovbi ẹre ne ọ do gha re emwi ne a gha lekpa ẹre ya orukhọ mwa bọ mwa.” (1 Jọn 4:​9, 10) Ne Osanobua na hoẹmwẹ ima ẹre ọ zẹe ne ima na miẹn ayabọ ọghe orukhọ, ma vbe mwẹ ayayẹro ọghe arrọọ nẹi fo.

Odẹ ọkpa kpataki ne Jesu ya rhiẹre ma wẹẹ irẹn hoẹmwẹ emwa nagbọn, ọre ne ọ ma na he vbe Osanobua gie ẹre nọ do wu ye orukhọ ima. E Pọl keghi gbẹn vbekpae Jesu wẹẹ: “Ghe mwẹ Osanobua, I do ru vbene u hoo ne I ru. . . . Rhunmwuda wẹẹ Kristi ru zẹ vbene Osanobua hoo ne ọ ru, ma keghi khian ne a khuẹ hin orukhọ ima rre, rhunmwuda ese ne ọ ya egbe ẹre zọ uhukpa, nọ fo vbe otọ.” (Hib. 10:​9, 10) Ọmwa rhọkpa i rrọọ nọ gha sẹtin ru emwi ne Jesu ru. Ọna ẹre ọ zẹe ne Jesu na kha wẹẹ: “Ahoẹmwẹọmwa ne ọ ghi kpọlọ sẹ, ne ọmwa gha sẹtin mwẹ ghee avbe esiọre ọre ne ọ wu ba ẹmwẹ iran.” (Jọn 15:13) Ma ne emwa ni ma gba gha sẹtin ya egbe tae Jehova kevbe Jesu ra? Ẹẹn! Gima ziro yan vbene ima gha ya sẹtin ru vberriọ.

E Pọl keghi rhie igiọdu ne ima wẹẹ: “Vbene a na miẹn ighẹ ivbi Osanobua nọ ghan wa khin, te uwa gha hia ne uwa gha ye vbe irẹn. Wa gie ahoẹmwọmwa gha kha yan ẹdẹ agbọn uwa, zẹ vbene Kristi hoẹmwẹ ima ne ọ na ya ẹdẹ agbọn rẹn fi ohan ne ima.” (Ẹfis. 5:​1, 2) Ma ghaa rhie ahoẹmwọmwa ma vbe asefẹn hia ọghe arrọọ ọghe ima, ọni rhiema wẹẹ, te “ahoẹmwọmwa kha yan ẹdẹ agbọn ima.” Ẹi re ukpunu a ya rhie ahoẹmwọmwa vbenian ma, ọ khẹke nọ gha rhiegbe ma vbe emwi ne ima ru. E Jọn keghi kha wẹẹ: “Ivbi mwẹ, ọ ma kei ne ahoẹmwọmwa ima gha re ọghe ẹmwẹ unu kevbe etalọ, ọ kere ne ọ gha re ahoẹmwọmwa ẹmwata, na lekpae uyinmwẹ rẹn.” (1 Jọn 3:18) Vbe igiemwi, ahoẹmwọmwa ne ima mwẹ ne Jehova kevbe ogieva ima, ẹre ọ gua ima kpa ya “kporhu iyẹn nọ maan ọghe Arriọba.” (Mat. 24:14; Luk 10:27) Ma ghaa yabọ emwa, ma na vbe gha mwẹ ẹbo izinegbe kevbe ekhọe esi, ọ ghi rhiema wẹẹ, ahoẹmwọmwa kha yan ẹdẹ agbọn ima. Levbasevba, e Baibol rhie adia ne ima wẹẹ: ‘Wa gha yabọ egbe, zẹ vbene Osanobua vbe yabọ uwa.’​—⁠Kọl. 3:⁠13.

Ma gha hoẹmwẹ ọmwa, ọni ma rhiema wẹẹ ma i rhie adia nẹẹn vbe ọ gha ru emwi nọ ma khẹke. Vbe igiemwi, ọmọ ghaa viẹ, iye nọ pẹpẹ ọmọ sẹtin ru emwi ke emwi ne ọmọ nii ghẹ ghi viẹ. Sokpan, iye nọ gele hoẹmwẹ ovbi ẹre keghi gbe ẹre hin ọkhọ rre vbe ẹghẹ nọ khẹke. Erriọ Osanobua vbe ye. Agharhemiẹn wẹẹ irẹn ọre ahoẹmwọmwa, ọmwa ne “Nọyaẹnmwa hoẹmwẹ ọnrẹn, ọ gbe hin ọkhọ rre.” (Hib. 12:⁠6) Ahoẹmwọmwa ẹre ọ vbe gua ima kpa ya gbe emwa hin ọkhọ rre. (Itan 3:​11, 12) Sokpan, ne ima na re emwa ni ma gba, ọ khẹke ne ima gha begbe vbe ima ghaa gbe ọmwa hin ọkhọ rre, ne ima ghẹ ya ruẹ gberra egbe. Nọnaghiyerriọ, ọ khẹke ne ima hia gha mwẹ alaghodaro vbe nọ dekaan ahoẹmwọmwa na rhiema. Vbe ima khian ya sẹtin ru ọna hẹ? Gia ziro yan odẹ eha.

Okaro, nọ Osanobua nọ rhie orhiọn nọhuanrẹn nuẹn rhunmwuda ẹre ọ ya ima mwẹ akpa ọghe ahoẹmwọmwa. Jesu khare wẹẹ e Jehova keghi “rhie Orhiọn Ne Ọ Huanrẹn ne iran hia ne ọ vbu vbe obọ ẹre!” (Luk 11:13) Ma ghaa nọ Osanobua ne ọ rhie Orhiọn nọhuanrẹn ne ima, ma na vbe gie ẹre gha “dia ẹdẹ agbọn ima,” ma do gha mwẹ ahoẹmwọmwa sayọ. (Gal. 5:16) Vbe igiemwi, deghẹ ọkpa vbe ediọn ẹre u khin vbe iko, u sẹtin nọ Osanobua nọ ya orhiọn nọhuanrẹn ru iyobọ nuẹn, ne u mieke na gha rhie adia ne emwa vbe odẹ ọghe ahoẹmwọmwa. Deghẹ evbibiẹ emọ ẹre u khin, u sẹtin vbe nọ Osanobua nọ ya orhiọn nọhuanrẹn ru iyobọ nuẹn, ne u mieke na sẹtin gha dia ivbuẹ vbe odẹ ọghe ahoẹmwọmwa.

Nogieva, gha muẹn roro vbene Jesu ya rhie ahoẹmwọmwa ma hẹ uhiẹn vbe a ya obọ atosi muẹn. Ẹghẹ nọ wa ya khẹke ne ima ye igiemwi ọghe Kristi rre, ọre vbe ọmwa gha ru emwi nọ sọnnọ ima ra deghẹ a gbe ima ekueku. Emwi vberriọ gha sunu daa ima, inọta nọ khẹke ne ima nọ egbe ima ọre wẹẹ, ‘Deghẹ e Jesu nọ, de emwi nọ khian ru?’ Inọta vbenian wa ru iyobọ ne ọtẹn nokhuo ọkpa na tie ẹre Leigh ya ru emwi nọ khẹke. Ọ keghi kha wẹẹ: “Ọ mwẹ ẹghẹ ne orhunmwu ọkpa ne ima gba winna ya ye e-mail gie uhunmwu gie emwa nikẹre vbe isiwinna, ya rhia mwẹ eni rua kevbe iwinna ne I ru. Ọ ghi da mwẹ. I keghi nọ egbe mwẹ wẹẹ, ‘Deghẹ e Jesu ẹre a ruẹ emwi vbenian, de emwi nọ gha te ru?’ I ghi ru erria yan inọta na nẹ, I na hẹwẹ vbọ. Okiekie ẹre I ghi ya do rẹn wẹẹ, uwu emianmwẹ nọ wegbe ẹre ọmwa nọ doẹki na ye, egbe ma zẹdẹ rọkhọe. Ọna ẹre ọ ghi ya mwẹ do rẹn wẹẹ, ẹi re aro sẹnrẹn ẹre ọ ya doẹki ne ọ do. Ne I na ru erria yan odẹ ne Jesu ya rhie ahoẹmwọmwa ma uhiẹn vbe emwa ya ohu muẹn, ẹre ọ ru iyobọ mẹ.” Vbene ẹmwata, ma gha ya egbe tae Jesu, te ahoẹmwọmwa khian gha kha yan ẹdẹ agbọn ima.

Nogieha, gha mwẹ ahoẹmwọmwa nẹi re ọghe ọkẹnrẹn nọ re ama na ya rẹn Ivbiotu e Kristi ọghe ata. (Jọn 13:​34, 35) Jesu rhie egbe ahoẹmwọmwa na ma. Ọ vbe khẹke ne “egbe ekhọe nọ ghaa gu e Jesu” vbe gha gu ima. De odẹ ne Jesu ya rhie egbe ekhọe na ma? Ọni ọre vbe ọ kpa hin ẹrinmwi rre, ọ na “ya ekhọe obọ ẹre kuẹ ehia ye otọ,” ighẹ uyi hia nọ mwẹ vbe ẹrinmwi. Ẹi re ọni ọkpa, ọ na ye arrọọ ọghẹe fiohan ne ima. (Fil. 2:​5-8) Zẹ vbene ima ya  ya egbe tae Jesu, iziro ekhọe ima ghi vbe do yevbe na ghee ọghẹe, ma vbe gha mu ẹmwẹ emwa ọvbehe ye okaro. De afiangbe ọvbehe na miẹn vbe a ghaa rhie ahoẹmwọmwa ma?

Gia guan kaẹn afiangbe eva na miẹn vbe a ghaa rhie ahoẹmwọmwa ma:

• ỌKPA MA KHIN VBE UHUNMWU OTAGBỌN HIA: Rhunmwuda ahoẹmwọmwa ne ima mwẹ, ikọ ne ima rhirhi yo vbe ehe nọ rhirhi gha khin vbe uhunmwu otagbọn hia, te etẹn wa rhan obọ miẹn ima yi. Ne ima na hoẹmwẹ egbe ima vbe uhunmwu otagbọn hia, afiangbe nọ sẹ ọna i rrọọ. (1 Pit. 5:⁠9) Vbuwe ẹbu Ivbiotu e Kristi ata ẹre a na miẹn ahoẹmwọmwa vbenian.

• ỌFUNMWEGBE: Ma “ghaa rhie ẹre ma ighẹ ima hoẹmwẹ egbe,” ọ keghi ya ima mwẹ ‘ọfunmwegbe ne ọ dee emwi hia kugbe.’ (Ẹfis. 4:​2, 3) Ọfunmwegbe na keghi rhiegbe ma vbe iko ọghomwa, asikoko kevbe asikoko odin. A ye miẹn ọfunmwegbe vbenian vbe agbọn Esu na nọ vuọn ne ighaegbe ra? (Psm. 119:165; Aiz. 54:13) Ma ghaa hia ne ima gu emwa hia gha rrọọ vbuwe ọfunmwegbe, te ima rhie ẹre ma vbene ima hoẹmwẹ iran sẹ hẹ, ọna keghi ya ẹko rhiẹnrhiẹn e Jehova.​—⁠Psm. 133:​1-3; Mat. 5:⁠9.

E Pọl keghi kha wẹẹ: “Ahoẹmwọmwa ẹre ọ de ọmwa igiẹ.” (1 Kọr. 8:⁠1) Vbe ọna demu? Vbe ebe Kọrinti nokaro uhunmwu ẹnrẹn 13, e Pọl keghi rhan otọ evba ye ẹmwẹ na kha. Uviẹn na, ẹre emwa eso tiẹre “Ihuan ọghe Ahoẹmwọmwa.” Okaro, ọmwa nọ gele hoẹmwẹ emwa ọvbehe i mu ọghe enegbe ẹre ye okaro. (1 Kọr. 10:24; 13:⁠5) Yevbesọni, ọmwa vberriọ keghi mwẹ ẹbo izinegbe, ekhọe esi kevbe amuroro daa emwa ọvbehe. Avbe akpa na ẹre ọ ya ẹgbẹe kevbe iko mwẹ akugbe.​—⁠Kọl. 3:⁠14.

Ahoẹmwọmwa ne ima mwẹ daa Osanobua ẹre ọ ghi hiunsi sẹ ehia. Ahoẹmwọmwa na, ọre ọza nọ gba emwa hia ni ke agbẹnvbo ughughan rre kevbe ni zẹ urhuẹvbo ughughan kugbe vbe ugamwẹ e Jehova, ẹre ọ vbe ye “iran hia họn ẹmwẹ” nẹẹn. (Zẹf. 3:⁠9) Gi ẹre gha re atamuolọyan ọghe ima wẹẹ, ẹdẹgbegbe vbe arrọọ ọghe ima, ẹre ima khian ya gha rhie akpa nọ hiunsi na ma nọ re abọ ọghe ọmọ erhan orhiọn nọhuanrẹn.