I think we can also look at this verse in the sense of what true love really is. True love isn’t about that feeling we get with ‘butterflies in our tummies’ (as my kids would say), it’s something Strong and Powerful enough to bear all things. Think about that. In order to actually bear all things, (including but not limited to: stupidity, selfishness, boredom, trauma, death and adultery) love has to be pretty powerful. This quote sums up the power of a Love that bears all things:
“My love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break.”
This love is stronger than feelings, emotions, or circumstances. This is God’s love.
When I made a vow to be faithful to my husband no matter what, I really meant it. I had no idea what it would entail fully, nobody does. But it doesn’t matter. Your love in the moment when you say ‘I do’ is stronger than the what-ifs. Sometimes you don’t feel it, but you stand on the truth that Love Bears All Things. If you can get through a hard time together, you’ll look back and realize how much stronger your love is, how much more you love and respect each other because of it.
It goes beyond our spouses too. We’re supposed to love everyone this way. Not just our church family, or group of friends. Jesus even called us to love our enemies. In fact, Jesus goes so far as to say, “Do you think you’re special because you love your friends? Everyone loves those that love them!” We are called to an even higher place, where we love those who don’t love us.
I can’t help but wonder when love gives up, was it ever really love in the first place? If someone loves me, and then they don’t love me anymore, did they ever really love me? If Love Bears All Things, than is something that doesn’t bear all things not love? Or did we have love, but then made a choice to no longer love? If you make a choice to no longer love, was it really love to begin with?
If love really bears all things, then we shouldn’t be complaining so much about the people that love us, or the people we love, and we should even stop complaining about people we don’t like that much. We actually need to ask God for this Powerful Love, that outranks our fear, hatred, annoyance, or just plain dislike of someone else. We can walk in the Love that never gives up, that bears all things, that keeps going, keeps loving. Maybe you don’t know how to love like that. That’s okay. We’re asking God to help us, and we’re learning a lot about love along the way.
Remember, it’s about the heart. You may not love perfectly every moment, but as long as you’re on the journey, and saying YES to God when He shows you something, or corrects you, or even disciplines you, your heart will be in the right place.
Love bears all things. Let’s live it.
Walking in love one week at a time.
No comments:
Post a Comment
If 15 Weeks to LOVE is going to make a difference, we have to do this together. Post your comments, your struggles, your victories, your funny stories, so we can share together in this journey. It's not an easy one, but moving forward as a team will help us endure to the end; and press forward for the greater goal. So please tell me what you think, and how you're doing.