LOVE’S STRENGTH

Love bears all things…– 1 Corinthians 13:7a

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us – Romans 5:8

LOVE bears all things, including many offences! This is the strength of love. The Greek word for used here can mean one of two things: it can mean “love carries all things” or “love covers all things”! Either way, love braves difficult things to keep going! Love passes through pressures, pains, fires and floods, gaining strength rather than dissipating in power. Love never stops even under the strain of difficulties imposed by others. Trials toughen true love!

LOVE is PROTECTIVE. Love protects to preserve. Love defends those it loves. Love accommodates “all things” – imperfections, immaturity, incapacities, errors and misunderstandings – and still defends what others have given up on. True love is protective of its essence, warding and fending off whatever threatens it. By bearing all things, love protects who or what it loves from being hurt. Love hangs in there through thick and thin. Love stays to save, salvage, nurture and help, even when the natural impulse is to leave.

Think of the love of God for His people: Jehovah stayed with Israel century-after-century, walking and working with them, protecting and nurturing them. He put up with their inappropriate attitudes and acts when He should have abandoned or destroyed them. God disciplined their disobedience and punished their rebellion, but always directed these at their repentance and restoration. His Arms were ever open to receive and embrace the objects of His love.

Christ modelled the same depth of love: even while we were enemies, God’s Son reached down to save us from sin, Satan, and death. While we were living contrary and in opposition to God, engaging in despicable and reprehensible iniquities, Christ reached out to pay the price for our sin, saving and redeeming us by His love! Christian love handles the sins of others in ways that will not bring shame or exposure (Gal. 6:1).

This is the proof of God’s love in us: our love ought to cover and protect others. This means: we refuse to exploit or take undue advantage of others. We do not listen to lies, partake in gossips, or pass derogatory remarks. We determine never to abandon precious relationships because of flimsy excuses, disagreements, frailties or misunderstandings. We choose to hold on and to never give up on love!