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].
1 Corinthians 13:7 AMPC
Context:
In the chapter before this one, Paul talks about the gifts of the Spirit, and how they all work for the good of the church. However, chapter 12 ends with a direction to a more excellent way, and lays the groundwork for the chapter on love. It would appear that from God's perspective, all the gifts of the Spirit have a right context, and it is that they must flow out of a heart of love, not showmanship. Man wants to turn all of God's gifts into commerce; we want to use God as a sounding board for our own announcement. The gifts belong to God and should be used for his glory but we seem to desire to make it all about ourselves. How do I put the right heart behind the right actions? How do I ensure that what I do is based on that which God approves? Love is that answer.
Message and Response:
The chapter where today's extract is taken from starts with the very clear idea that no gift would profit me if it is not used in love. Today's extract goes on to talk about what love is and does. As I read it, I get the picture of the totality of man's relationship with God as well as man being established here. No matter what comes; how hard the work or the burden is, if I have the clear understanding of who I work for, I can endure anything. Oh, hard times will come. Working for God does not exclude me from painful experiences, but I have the assurance of God's presence in me to keep me focused on what truly matters. I am not choosy about my experiences; I just want to make sure that I have God's love in me.
When that connection with God is secure, my connection with man is also secure. Love is ever ready to believe the best about everyone, not because you are stupid, but because you are also the recipient of a love you did not deserve. The one who knows the value of what s/he has received is always ready to extend it to other people too.
I hope because I know that it does not end down here. There is something amazing to look forward to; in God, there is an end to all of these. Hope in God makes a man hold on, even when things are difficult. When you read the words: "its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances", you know that tests are coming. God would not mention the possibility of fading hope if it were not possible. The reason why hope does not fade is if it is founded on the one who births and sustains both hope and love.
Love, the type God births and sustains, is also presented as enduring everything without weakening. It stands the test of time because it is birthed by the Ancient of Days, who has no end. It is enduring because God is also described as love. No wonder the chapter where today's extract is taken from ends with the words: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Faith and hope have an expiry date, and that is when this present earthly life ends. I have no need for faith and hope when their benefits have already been achieved. But for love, long after this earthly life is over, God, and all that he is, still continues.
And I see the words that depict the totality of my life. EVERY and ALL is used about 5 times in the one verse. I don't get to pick and choose that which I will do; I am either all in or all out. I can't pick that which makes me comfortable and reject that which is inconvenient. No matter the circumstances that may come, or how nasty the person is, or how much the situation or person rubs me off the wrong way, I must settle my reaction in line with God's nature in me. If I have God's version of love, everyone will be welcome. If I have God's kind of love, I will not have a preference for those who deserve to be loved. All will be loved, just as God showed me amazing love.
No matter what else I get, I need to get all of God. Life will not be complete without him, and nothing I hold on to will make sense outside of him. Do you have love, the type that reflects who God is? Can I say of a truth that I have God's kind of love? As I audit my life, can I see all the attributes mentioned above? It is never too late to get it right; the love of God is such that will continue to supply grace so that my life can be all that God wants it to be. If I do not have it, I can ask God for it. My eternity will be glad I did. His time of favour is here.
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