A Little Bit of Faith: A Love for a Lifetime

Do you have a love that can endure any storm and stand the test of time no matter what?

Often when we think of love, we tend to think of the romantic form of love. Yes, we might even consider the love a parent has for a child, but most often it is the romantic type of love that comes to mind.

However, Paul discusses love in its most powerful and purest form. He says in First Corinthians 13 that love is patient and it is kind. He goes on to say it never fails. This is the kind of love that most of us desire to have in our lives, a love that is patient and kind and will never fail us. But if we look for this kind of love in our relationships, they will fail us every time. Paul says, “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, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13: 4‐8)

How many of us can say that we love in this manner? Not many. When we are able to love in this manner, then we can say that we are beginning to learn how to love in a Christlike manner. True love only wants the best for its beloved. It does not desire to have its own way. True love seeks to help bring out the best in a person and to be that soft place for a person to fall. The type of love that Paul is talking about cannot start with us alone.

As a matter of fact, we do see this type of love expressed on a daily basis. This is the kind of love that Christ has for us. His love is patient, and it is kind. His love does not envy, nor does it boast, His love is not proud. Christ’s love for us is not rude, it is not self‐seeking, His love is not easily angered, and His love keeps no record of our wrong doings. His love for us does not delight in evil but it rejoices gladly in the truth. Christ’s love for us always protects, His love always trusts, His love always hopes, and his love always perseveres. Christ’s love never fails. This is truly an
agape type of love. It’s an amazing kind of love. When you experience this kind of love, you can never feel worthy of it. Yet, this is the kind of love that God expresses to us.

What kind of love do you want in your life? What kind of love do you try to express to your loved ones, to your friends, to people you simply pass on the street? Are you willing to receive and accept Christ’s unfailing love? If you are, you can begin to learn to love more deeply and sincerely. Now that you know the kind of love that Christ has for us, you can begin to express this kind of love toward others. So, the next time you are upset, don’t lose your patience. Amen? Amen.