Enduring Love

This ain’t no fairy tale

As children, we often see love in a romantic way, shaped by TV shows or movies, and the relationships of those around us.

As we grow up, we start to see that love is much deeper than what we first thought. Real love isn’t about fairy tales or princes on white horses rescuing princesses. It’s much more pure and powerful than we ever could have imagined.

Unfortunately, many of us learned the difference between fairy tales and real life when we were quite young. We found that not every relationship is healthy, and not everyone who says they love you is being honest.

Sadly, we also discovered that love without God has its limits. And for those of us who love deeply, we know it can be both exhilarating and excruciating at times.

An Indestructible Love

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:21-23 NIV)

At some point, we all experience heartbreak, and many of us have been disappointed by a love that doesn’t last. But we also know that God is love, and His love is always faithful, even when we are not.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39 NIV)

What an incredible conviction and revelation, and who would know better than a man once called Saul, a man whose purpose it was to persecute and eradicate the Christian church?

The same man who, after one encounter with Jesus, was redeemed…changed, now called Paul.

True love is indestructible and everlasting, demonstrated over and over again in the Scriptures when Jesus took people like Paul, who would have been deemed unlovable by others, and chose not only to be kind to them, but to call them His own.

The Greatest Gift

According to 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13, love is the greatest enduring virtue.

“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.

Scripture then goes on to describe the characteristics of love: patient, kind, not envious, or boastful. Not proud, or dishonoring. Not self-seeking, easily angered, keeping no record of wrongs. Never delighting in evil, but rejoicing in truth. Always protecting, trusting, hoping, and persevering (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

I don’t know about you, but in the past when I read this chapter, I often felt convicted about the times when I’ve loved those around me in my own strength rather than as Christ would. Times when I’ve failed to be patient or forever hopeful.

Now, I read this Scripture with hope, seeing that in His perfect love, there is forgiveness and a call to love as He does - with an enduring love.

The Vine

True love is our foundation, and we cannot fully walk in love without being connected to our source.

We know that God is the vine; we are the branches, so without an intimate and strong connection, we’re not receiving what we need from our source to produce abundantly good fruit.

This fruit is nurtured by the Word, as we abide in Christ, and is tended by the Holy Spirit.

Love in Action

Over the next couple of weeks, we will explore:

• Fantasy vs Reality: Contrasting what the world says love is with biblical truths.

• Love in Action: Moving beyond comfort and into enduring love.

• Our First Love: The importance of abiding in that moment.

We’ll use our live streams to take a deeper dive into this Real Love series.

Every Thursday morning over coffee, we’ll focus on key scriptures, real examples, and practical ways to walk in love daily.

With God’s Word as our compass and the Holy Spirit as our guide, let’s examine enduring love together.