First Baptist Church St. Simons Island

Love

Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

When I think about love, I obviously think of relationships I have that fall under that classification—my relationship with my husband, my children, my parents, my siblings, and with very dear friends.

Shouldn’t my love for Christ start that list? I grew up with a knowledge and utmost respect for the authority and power of God in my life. It wasn’t until years later, sitting in a Bible study where the question was asked, “Could you describe your relationship with God as a love relationship?” Logically, I knew the right answer. I mean, this was a Bible study class. But, if I was going to be honest, the answer was no. Respect him? Yes. Love him? No.

As is often the case, life took me to places where only Christ’s love for me would help. I would love to tell you that I had a moment of realization and threw myself into his word working as hard as I could to develop a strong relationship with him. However, that was not the case. In reality, he picked me up, he held me, he healed me, and he loved me with the purest, life-changing love. I grew to know the love of Christ for me. I felt it. It transformed me. Then, as a result, without even trying, I had an overwhelming, spontaneous love for him. There aren’t words to explain. His love had taken over and I had a new, profound love for him that flowed naturally out of my heart. The scripture in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 is a portrait of what Christ’s love is for us and of what he intended love to be. Some relationships may not always follow his pattern for love and may cause injury. The beautiful part of his love for us is that it always protects us and it will never fail us. Our hearts are safe in his care. We will find that we are most fulfilled when we freely receive his love for us and when we freely share his love with others. Could you describe your relationship with God as a love relationship?

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8