Sustaining Love

Love is the most powerful force ever known to mankind. It is often misunderstood, mislabeled and counterfeited. Love is difficult to define in concrete terms because it encompasses so much. It is an action, a perspective, a motivation, a heart changer, a healer, a restorer, a faith builder, and a cure all. Many believe love is a feeling. It is not. It is realized in our emotions very easily but it is not in itself and emotion. Some believe love is an attraction. We all know that many people experience very strong attraction towards someone but at the end of the day there is scant evidence of love having been present. Often, lust (strong primal desire) is called love by some but it quickly fails the test because of its selfish nature and intents.

Love is described best in 1 Corintians 13. This is from the amplified version. Pay close attention to verses 4 through 8.

1 If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such [a]as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody). 3 Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or [c]in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing.

4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. 5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. 7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. 8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy ([d]the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].

There is so much more to say on this topic but time constrains me so I will close with this last thought.

1 John 4:8 reads "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." and in 1 John 4:16 we read, "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him."

God is love. When the scriptures describe love they are in fact describing God Himself. If we love anyone it is God working through us. If we withhold love we are withholding God from others. God wants to work in us to make us more complete and full in His love so that we can share love (Him) with those we come into contact with. Here is something to ponder. Can I love others without God's help? The answer is no because you can't give what you don't have. To love others, we have to recieve God's love first. Then you can share it.

God loves you. Sounds like a cliche but it is such a tremendously powerful statement. God is love. His love never fails and if we let Him He will sustain us with His love. He will keep us in the center of His attention. He will continually work on us and in us to perfect us and enable us to be distributors of God's sustaining love.

Much love...