Tonight, I
was struck by how MUCH God loves us.
Truly, it’s amazing. His love is
so pure and free. He loves us freely,
gracefully, unconditionally, mercifully.
Think you’re a failure? Don’t worry, God loves you. Think you’re unworthy? Well, we all are, but God still loves
us. Think your sin is too great? God
loves you enough that He sent his son to die for you in your sin, even though
He already knew the sin you would commit.
God’s love is great and it covers a multitude
of sin, failures, shame, depression, guilt and every trial to ever come your
way.
But, I
digress. Tonight I was struck, not just
by how much God loves us, but that in being a Christian, or Christ-like, we
are supposed to love others in the same way.
We are supposed to love unconditionally, no matter what wrong has
been done. No. Matter. What. 1 Corinthians 13 has always been one of my
favorite scriptures, and I know we have all read it hundreds of times, but
tonight I challenge you to really read it. Soak in the words. Meditate on their meanings. Put them into practice- in your family, in
your jobs/schools, in your day-to-day life, in passing a stranger on the
street. Show God’s love, no matter what. (and know that I am preaching to myself more
than anyone else!)
Love is patient.
With that Doctor that makes you wait 2 hours. With that car that wants to drive 30 mph in
the fast line in front of you. With that
place you want to be in your life, that seems like it’s taking everything you
have and all the time you have. Patience.
Love is kind.
With that person that is rude to you.
With that person that drives you crazy.
With that person that wronged you.
With that stranger who needs just a smile to be encouraged to keep
fighting the good fight. Kindness.
Love does not envy. With
that family that seems to have it all. With
that person that just seems to always get what they want. With that person that doesn’t have to work
hard to be beautiful or successful or happy.
Do not envy means being happy for them and being satisfied with what you
have. Contentedness.
Love does not boast. When
your family is the one that has it all. When
you always get what you need and want. When
you buy that dream house or car. Even
when you work so hard to achieve great things.
Meekness and thankfulness.
Love is not proud. Love
has no ego. Love is not arrogant. Love means we are not stuck up because we
know that we unworthy. That the first
will become last. That we are all
servants. Humility.
Love is not rude. Love
means we are gentle and caring with others.
We look to minister to the needs of others. Love erases frustration and rudeness and
replaces it with kindness and patience. Compassion.
Love is not self-seeking. Love
means you put the needs of others before your own. Love means selfless acts. Love means doing good for others without
looking for something in return. Love
means being a servant of others. Love
means looking out for one another and lifting each other up. Selflessness
and thoughtfulness.
Love is not easily-angered.
When that loved one does that thing that you told them not to do. I found a great devotional on the Love Chapter that says “Love…cannot
be held back by disappointment. The power of love is unstoppable and does not
know of any hindrances to it.” How many
times have we been held back in our love because of anger or unforgiveness? Joy and
peacefulness.
Love keeps no record of wrongs.
With that person that offended you.
With that person that mistreated your family member. With that person that just simply made a
mistake. Love does not remember all past sins and bring them up in every new fight. Forgive and forget.
Love does not delight in evil. Love
is shining God’s light. Where there is
darkness, there is no light, therefore love cannot coexist with evil. The light of love overtakes the darkness of
evil. Love delights in doing good, in
doing the Will of the Father. Righteousness.
Love rejoices with the truth. Love
does not spread lies and gossip. Love
seeks the truth in every situation. The
truth brings us closer to God and reveals the love He has for us. Even when the truth hurts, love is honest, sincere
and trustworthy. Truthfulness.
This whole
description of love is summed up in verses 7-8. "Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." Love like Jesus. Shine His light in a darkworld. Show this love to others, whether they
deserve it or not, and you will be worthy to receive the same love in return.
Every word
I read describing true love in Christ makes me say “Ouch. How have I failed in that one, let me count
the ways!” Not rude, always kind? Ouch.
Always patient? Ouch. Not easily angered? Major ouch. (Sorry hubs- I am really trying
to work on that one!!) But the truly
amazing thing about Christ’s love is that all we have to do is say, “Hey, I’m
sorry for that way that I failed You.
Please help me to be better in that area.” And how great is our God that He WILL help
you! He wants us to be good. He wants us to show His love to His people,
so why wouldn’t He help someone with a truly repentant heart turn from their
wicked ways? God’s love is great and
merciful and it never fails because failure is not a part of God’s nature. He is the only unconditional, everlasting love
in the world.
For links to a few
of the songs that inspired this post:
“Pure” by Kari Jobe