Love: Perfect When In Christ

Love. 

Such a little word for such a completely confusing, wonderful emotion! 

We use it rather flippantly though, don't we? I think we've forgotten what love truly is! 

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

So I want to talk about love. 

I've "been in love" many, many times. I've though I met Mr Perfect. That he could do no wrong, that he walked on water. I've made excuses, I've ignored my friends counsel. 

And it wasn't love. 

He ended up hurting me. Breaking my heart. 

I guess that's why they're called "crushes".

But ... love. 

1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13 is commonly called the Love Chapter of the Bible. I love it! 

One thing I've heard, is that if you're crushing on someone put their name in for love.

"______ is patient. _______ is kind..."

This shows you what kind of person you're falling for. 

But I think what's more important is this. 

1 John 4:16 b

"...God is love..."

So, if God is love, He is the highest standard of love. 

I mean, for real! God let His son die for our sin! If that isn't love, what is?! 

If God's love is the standard of love, than how are we to compete? 

We can't.

God's love is perfect. God's love never leaves. God's love never fails! 

But on to the fact of love between two people. 

A man and a woman. 

I haven't met my man yet. Or if I have I don't know it yet! :) 

But I am...

1) Praying for him.

2) Keeping a journal  to give to him on our wedding day

3) Saving my heart for him

And while it's hard to wait, I know I'm being molded into the woman I am supposed to be for him. 

God's timing is perfect and I know when I meet him, I will fall head over heels for him. And I will seek to have a 1 Corinthians love. 

Love ...

Hard yet simple...

Wonderful and awful...

Perfect when in Christ.