LOVE

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. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Most of us can remember our first puppy love. Some brought us memorable times, while others brought us hurt. There are those few who married their first love, but fewer who are still in that original relationship. The point is relationships are difficult.

In our youth, we easily fall head over heals for the one guy or gal who seems the most impossible match. More times than not, we find ourselves being used for a specific purpose or agenda by that person, rather than having them see us for who we are. We’re taken advantage of, used, then tossed to the side to lick our wounds.

Finally, there are those select few who completely entrust their entire being to what or whom Christ places in their lives. There is something to be said for those who trust in God’s plan. Eventually, just the right person comes into their lives at exactly the appropriate time. These individuals may find love immediately while others wait years, but when that one special person comes their way, it’s as though they were never apart.

It’s very easy to stand on the sideline and preach to those who have yet to find that perfect mate, it’s another thing to uplift those people in friendship and prayer and help fill their lives with joy and peace until the one God has chosen comes their way.

1 Corinthians 13 is often referred to as the love chapter, but actually it’s a very difficult set of guidelines for us to follow. Though worded beautifully and used frequently in weddings, the meaning within this scripture is deep, self-convicting, and difficult. These things scrub against the very nature of what humans tend to do. Love is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful and it is not proud. It is not rude, self-seeking, easily angered and it keeps no records of wrong. Rather is protects and rejoices in the truth, trusts, hopes and perseveres. Love never fails. More so, love is hard because it requires we become self-sacrificing. Whether in a marriage or dating relationship, or whether in our daily walk with the Lord, love is hard. We are required to work constantly to maintain the relationship we’ve been given.

There are times our earthly relationships fail. One person cannot a two-person relationship make, and likewise is our relationship with the Father. It cannot be one-sided and be expected to work. The Father never fails on His end, it is us who walk away from Him. In Christ, we can find the happiest love we will ever know and from there, the rest falls into place. If we trust, believe and step out on faith, God will bring just the right person into our life. And if His timing is different than ours, forging the love we have between our Father and ourselves can be sufficient.

Remember, love is patient and the Father knows our needs.

Prayer: Father, hold us close when we are alone. Help us to forge a deep and abiding relationship with You in the forefront.