Love that last is patient and kind. It does not envy neither is it puffed up. A love that is selfless, it does not seek its own. It is not easily provoked, bears all things, believes all things, hopes in all things and endures all things. It is a love that never fails.
The Holy Scriptures gives us a perfect picture of this type of love in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 from verses 4 to 8.
What ties a family together apart from sharing a bloodline is love. Perfect love is more than a feeling of constant affection for someone or something. This love goes beyond mere affection.
The world is used to love that comes with conditions. A love that is dependent on what you do. As long as what you do is acceptable to me then I love you.
The example of perfect love is Jesus Christ. His love for us is before 'we do'. It is not dependent on what we do. In fact our relationship with God was restored by His death whilst we were still sinners, because He loved us (Romans 5:8). This is unconditional love.
We too have the ability to love like this. We are created in God's image. We have the capacity to love like He does. But it has to be beyond the flesh - feeling. If we want to love with our flesh we will fail. Flesh is self-centred. Self knows and cares only for itself. It is easily hurt. It seeks to take revenge.
This type of real love comes from your spirit. Your spirit is what is God like. It is what can go beyond the flesh. It is the seat of Christ in you because God is Spirit. This love can only be in Christ and through Him.
This love is patient. A love that easily forgives. A love that is there even when you are angry, upset or hurt. A love from which long lasting relationships are built. It is like the foundation of a house. No matter how beautiful or ugly that house is the foundation remains and keep the house standing.
A love that is intentional, lived out from the decision to love. To be able to love like this, you must start with yourself, then your immediate family, extend to the body of Christ, loving all people then becomes easier.
Try it.
