Love

What is your view of love? Many influences determine our view of love. Two strong ones are television and Hollywood bringing us to the conclusion that love is nothing more than a rather untrustworthy feeling over which we have no control. We learn to yearn for breathless excitement and the passion of these feelings. With this comes worry about what will happen when these feelings change or end.

Paul presents a totally different picture of love. Love is practical. It is something we choose, and it becomes a part of every aspect of our lives. It’s not as exciting as the movie version, but is is longer lasting and more reliable.

Paul’s love is about dealing with others with generosity and hospitality, facing the future with hope and prayer, facing conflict and struggle by rejecting vengeance, and returning good for evil. This is the love that heals and liberates both the lover and the beloved. This is the kind of love God demonstrated in Jesus, and it’s the kind of love that leads us to abundant life. The essence of love is always to seek the best for the other person.

Loving God, give us strength and wisdom to act with love in all that we do. Amen. — LD