There was a time a person said I love you with an unconditional heart. Now, it’s become a common phrase of convenience and judgments. We want to be cherished, but many have lost what it means to care about another person. Beloved, never base love on how someone treats you. It is not a transaction that guarantees you a return on investment. The Bible makes it transparent, so there’s no uncertainty about what this commitment portrays. “Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].8 Love never fails [it never fades nor ends. (1 Corinthians 13:7-8, AMP).
I believe love is color blind, without fault findings, and perseveres regardless of the circumstances. It’s originated from God, pure, undefiled, and selfless. It is without demands or any pre-written conditions. Because of this lax in loving as Christ does, people fall short in preferring others as they command it. You run from one relationship to the next leaving behind a trail of separation, pain, dysfunction, and anger. Nobody could ever live up to your expectations because you do not understand what it means to be devoted to someone.
Love does what seems impossible, senseless, even crazy. It doesn’t imply allowing someone to harm or mistreat you. So, here are the four extraordinary attributes of love.
1. Love Bears All Things
The New American Standard Bible (NASB); the word bear means to cover. When you protect someone, you shelter them from harm. When offended, you don’t cover their wrongdoings, or try bypassing the consequences of sin. You love them through the process by encouraging their heart without judgment. (Proverbs 10:12). Beloved, if the opportunity occurs, you save their reputation and will not shame them. Love isn’t self-seeking; therefore, it drives you to look out for their welfare along with what’s best for the other person. God calls for us to have selfless concern for others without an ulterior motive for whatever we do.
2. Believes All Things
There is a reason to believe. It doesn’t mean love is blind to their behavior, actions, and faults. You think the best when you see the worst. You trust God to do a new thing in them. So, your perspective changes. My friend, loving someone is not performance-driven. Nor is it measured by their good deeds. You give them another chance whether they deserve appreciation. It is unconditional, expecting nothing in return. The agape love of God calls us to love as He loves us. A person may not have earned trust, yet God loves past their actions and meets their need.
Mistrust has become an epidemic. Deceit, lying, and manipulation have overflooded even the Body of Christ. People have become suspicious of an ulterior intention behind what may sound like a sincere offer. It’s the facade under a false pretext to gain someone’s trust long enough to seize what you want. We must get back to a time when a person did everything within reason in keeping their word. Confidence was of utmost honorable, provided it didn’t involve breaking the law or betrayal of trust. There was no quid pro quo because whatever we did was not for gaining a reward. These practices help build strong relationships, communities and give others the courage to change the world and fill it with the essence of love.
3. Hopes All Things
Love remains unmoved through the most overwhelming difficulties. It hopes through the season of the unseen outcome. (Hebrew 11:1). In loving others, we hope to see them reach their ultimate potential and live out the love of God in their lives. We want the best for them, so we inspire them even though they have given us every reason not to believe in them.
No matter the circumstances, even if everything does not turn out as desired, hopelessness; occupies no place in our hearts. The abiding strength from the Lord compels us to see past what’s going on because we know He will work it for our greater good. (Hebrews 10:23). We remain full of hope, at peace, and we have a confident expectation in what God has promised.
4. Endure Allhings
Love is persistence and longsuffering. It does not give up nor think the worse. So, we endure without becoming weary in doing good. It lasts through the incredible seasons and fierce opposition. This commitment comes from a love saturated in a solid relationship with God. Because of this, we know we can endure it no matter the insult, affliction, or adversity. You don’t let feelings nor emotions determine how you react to anything.
We persevere for the right cause and not only when it’s convenient. (1 Corinthians 4:2). Love provokes us to remain steadfast, unshakable, unchangeable even when suffering when doing what’s right. (1 Peter 2:20). Beloved, you love despite if it feels good or not. We love regardless of whether it’s returned or not.
And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13). I believe the true essence of love is to treat people better than how we want someone to treat us. It is giving them what you consider they don’t deserve regardless of the consequences. Love can’t resist giving its best when everything someone does presents the opportunity to get even, walk away, and never look back. It’s attracted to the most dreadful offenses and persists through the bleakest storm. Love is reliable, stubborn, and eternal.
I pray the musical selection; Love One Another by Michael W. Smith stirs your heart and faith in God.
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