Living a Life Full of Flavor

When you walk into an ice cream shop, a coffee bar, or a candy store, one of the first questions you hear is, “What flavor do you want?” Flavors make life interesting. They give variety and richness. They make a cup of coffee, a scoop of ice cream, or a simple piece of candy stand out.

But what if that same idea applied to our lives?

What if the way the world “tastes” your life depends on the flavors you carry?

In Galatians 5:22–23, the Apostle Paul gives us a flavor list for the Christian life—the Fruit of the Spirit:

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

These aren’t just virtues to work harder at. They’re evidence of the Holy Spirit living in us. They’re the flavors of a Spirit-led life. When people encounter you, what do they taste? Bitterness, anger, and selfishness—or love, joy, and peace?

A healthy apple tree doesn’t strain to make apples. It simply produces fruit because it’s rooted and nourished. The same is true for followers of Jesus. When we stay rooted in Him, these flavors come naturally.

The Flavor of Love

Let’s start where Paul starts—with love. When you walk into a bakery, you smell the bread before you see it. The aroma draws you in and makes you hungry. Some smells attract, others repel. (If you’ve ever walked down certain streets in New York City, you know exactly what I mean.) The same is true spiritually. People can “smell” what’s in our hearts before they ever hear what we say. The first thing people should sense when they encounter a follower of Jesus is love.

Jesus said it Himself:

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:35

Love is the leading flavor. It’s the one that sets the tone for all the rest. Without it, everything else falls flat.

Love Is the Foundation

The Apostle Paul put it beautifully in 1 Corinthians 13:13:

“Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Faith and hope are powerful, but love is foundational. Without love, everything else crumbles. I once lived in New Orleans, where foundations are a big deal—because the whole city is built on swampy ground. Under the Caesars Superdome, there are 2,100 pylons driven deep into the earth to keep it from sinking. Even so, buildings still settle about an inch a year. When the foundation shifts, everything else starts to crack. The same is true spiritually:

• Faith without love becomes harsh.
• Service without love becomes empty.
• Truth without love becomes cruel.

Love is what keeps everything standing.

Love Is More Than a Feeling

Our culture treats love like a feeling—something you fall into or out of. But biblical love is a choice.

Paul describes it clearly in 1 Corinthians 13:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud... it keeps no record of wrongs.”

Notice how every phrase is an action, not a feeling. Love is patience when you’re irritated. Love is kindness when you could be harsh. Love is forgiveness when you’d rather keep score. Real love takes commitment. Parents understand this. You don’t feel like waking up at 2 a.m. to feed a crying baby—but love moves you anyway. The same is true in marriage, friendship, and community. Love is not about convenience; it’s about consistency.

Love Is the Mark of the Spirit

Here’s the good news: you don’t have to manufacture this kind of love on your own. Romans 5:5 says,

“God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”

When we’re struggling to love—the difficult neighbor, the co-worker who pushes every button, the person who’s hurt us—God provides what we lack. Just like a healthy tree naturally bears fruit, a Spirit-filled believer naturally bears love. It’s not forced. It’s the overflow of a heart rooted in Christ.

Living Out Love

So what does this look like in everyday life?

In the church:

Do new people feel embraced or ignored? Love chooses connection over comfort. It opens the circle instead of staying in the clique.

In our homes:

Do our spouses and kids feel our love through patience, kindness, and service—or only when it’s convenient?

In the world:

Do coworkers and neighbors see Christ’s love in us—or just another person with an attitude?

Three Practical Challenges

1. Pray daily: “Holy Spirit, help me love like You today. Show me who to love and how to love.”
2. Act intentionally: Go out of your way to show love this week—especially to someone who’s hard to love.
3. Reflect honestly: Is there someone you’ve been withholding love from? Ask God to soften your heart.

The Aroma of Christ

Love isn’t extra credit—it’s essential. It’s the flavor that makes the rest of the Fruit of the Spirit come alive.

So here’s the question: When people “smell” your life, do they sense the love of Jesus? Imagine a church so full of God’s love that our homes, workplaces, and communities couldn’t help but be drawn in. Imagine a city where the aroma of Christ fills every conversation and every act of service. Let’s not just talk about love. Let’s live it. Let’s be people who carry the unmistakable flavor of Jesus wherever we go.