“Love never fails.”

I Corinthians 4:8

Who (or what) do you truly love? Your spouse? Your children? Your parents? Your pet? How about your house or your car? Your motorcycle? Your boat?

Do you love going on vacation? Eating at your favorite restaurant? Do you love your job? Your hobbies?
 

If you answered yes to any of these, then the next question would be, “What is it about these things that cause you to think, ‘Yes I do love them’?”

-        Is it a feeling they give you inside when you’re around them or when you think about them?

-        Is it a desire to just go all out and do whatever you can for them?

-        Or is it something else you just can’t put into words? You just “know” it?

We are all able to say what we love. But the more important indicator, the more important question, may be, “What do our actions actually indicate we love?”

Here’s something to think about. If somebody were given an assignment to follow us around for a year and hear our conversations and watch what we do - at the end of that year what would their report say that we loved?

We have a definition of love that is so straight-forward, so understandable – Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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.  But when human emotions kick in, we stray from it so easily.

Peter found that out. He swore that he’d never betray Jesus because of his love for Him, and less than twenty-four hours later the rooster was crowing.

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” That means love is more than an emotion. It’s more than a word. Love is a lifestyle that shows God that you mean what you say. It is making sure that every action affirms and confirms that love. It says love comes from deeper inside me than the word which so easily rolls off my tongue. It comes from somewhere deep inside a person, from a heart that values it and cherishes it above all else.

God’s love for us was so great that He sent His Son to die for us. That’s love in action. It is God proving to us that love is worth everything. Is your love for Him the same? 

“Father, Thank you for the love of Calvary and for the gift of Your Son. Help us to honor that love by loving others as He loved us. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Grace,

Rev. Dan