A little more about love...

The other day as my daughter rummaged through a cupboard she found a stack of napkins left from our wedding. And as you can see that was nearly 10 years ago!! Trust me they haven't lasted that long because of the lack of mess in our house!! No, I think they were hid away for a reason; as we approach our anniversary God continues to bring the idea of love to mind and this napkin simply holds one more truth He wants me to remember!

This morning I posted these three words as my status on Facebook. Perhaps you'd agree with the ones who "liked" it or maybe you are asking the same question that was left in the comments, "Are you sure?" If that is the thought on your mind, can we talk for a moment? (And even if it isn't I encourage you stay with me as we explore this topic a bit more.)

First of all, I understand why you ask. I mean who wouldn't look around in our world today and wonder if this statement really is true? You or I don't have to look far to see broken relationships, divorce, abuse, the list goes on and it gets more complicated when we realize that some of this pain is created by those who love, or are supposed to anyway.

But this is where we must dig deeper - these three words don't come from me and they are not based on my opinion, but instead are found in God's Word, they are Truth from our Father!

So what does that mean? This love, the love I know never fails, is defined by the creator of the world, not the world. That is a difference we must acknowledge because without that understanding it is impossible to grasp the truth in this short statement.

In our world today, love seems to be situational, something that can come and go. It can be conditional, here today and gone tomorrow. We can wrongly view it as something we deserve or need to earn. It is often experienced as something warm and fuzzy, a good feeling; one that's great while it lasts, but forgotten when the moment fades away.

These examples help me understand why we'd question the statement, "Love never fails." Obviously something that is man made is not permanent, thus it will fail!

And this is where God's definition must come in, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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 is an action, it is something we do and more important than that it is something God did and continues to do!!

1 John 4:9-11, "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

Love never fails because it comes from God, the One who makes no mistakes, the One who's love endures forever!! (Psalm 136:2)

Does that mean over the last 10 years my love has never failed my husband? No!! Not even the last 10 days, but God's love in me (and my husband) has not failed, thus His spirit in us has carried us through the moments we have failed and let one another down.

So friends, I am sure, love never fails!! Today will you receive the love God has for you and then share that with another??

Perhaps you want to take a minute and think about this. I encourage you to pray about it and ask God to help you understand what love really means - He will help you take the next step in understanding a concept that can be difficult to comprehend! Like JJ Heller sings, may we all remember that God is the One who whispers these words to our heart, "I will love you for you; Not for what you have done or what you will become; I will love you for you; I will give you the love, the love that you never knew."