Love, again

God is love. My God is love. The God I commune with daily IS love.

When I consider my own lacking love, I'm embarrassed, saddened even. I will never be able to love like God. Not even close and yet He commands it, shows us how to do it, knowing we'll never completely reach Jesus' example.

Perfect love casts out fear. Jesus was the perfect love in the flesh. Therefore in Him I have nothing to fear.

Then there's the other definitions of love in the bible: Jesus' relationship with the Father, his relationship with the disciples, with us, love between a man and wife. Husbands are commanded to love their wives like Christ does the church. To love like that, like Christ is amazing, mind-blowing, incomprehensible. We cannot fathom that love completely. I have an idea of how much God loves me but I can't come even close to the reality.

And then WE are commanded to love. That's the greatest commandment! Love God and love others. How do I love though? Love is feeling and action, most importantly action. 1 Corinthians, overly quoted, and yet dead on. To love like this is..it's perfect. And this is the love I must strive for. Love is a choice. It's not a feeling I have when I talk to him. It's choosing to see him as he is, and love him in spite of his faults.
Love hopes, believes, endures. It doesnt fail. It doesn't keep track of sins and weaknesses. It supports, encourages, remains in spite of failure, disappointment and hurt. It pushes through hurt and gives completely, selflessly. It delights in truth and patiently waits. It is not self involved, self consumed or self focused. It waits with hope and faith. It isn't jealous or hurtful.

Love like this can do anything. It can change anything and be anything. It inspires. It's creative. It's spontaneous. It continues even when everything else fails. It doesn't leave. It's there. It's always there. It's dependable and trustworthy. It's caring and kind.

This love. This type of love. This overwhelming love, it completes.