"I'm Off!"
When I was eleven years old or so, I walked out of my parents' house. I'd had enough! For some reason I remember the event. Out of 11A Leighton Road Wolverhampton I stormed, and then - fearful as I marched into the unknown - I returned after one lap of my local block. How silly!
But we've probably all done something similar, if not in action, at least in thought. We've had enough of this person, enough of that situation, and so on. We want out.
Love Endures all Things
But today we learn that true divine love doesn't do that. Instead it endures all things, it perseveres. The Greek word translated endure or persevere, means keep on going. Look at how it is used in the New Testament:
"The one who endures [keeps going] to the end will be saved." (Matthew 10:22)
"I endure everything [I don't give up in the face of affliction] for the sake of the elect." (2 Timothy 2:10)
"Jesus endured [he put up with the suffering of] the cross" (Hebrews 12:12)
Earthly love gives up, but God's love keeps on going.
Summing it all Up
This is deliberately a short devotional, because there is only one simple lesson to take away. If you are about to give up on someone - don't. Perhaps you are thinking "they'll never change," "they'll never say sorry," "they'll never admit they are wrong." Love always hopes, remember? And therefore love perseveres.
Is it a child? - don't cease loving.
Is it a spouse? - till death parts you.
Is it a parent? - love endures.
A Christian friend? - love perseveres.
Don't give up, instead ask the Lord for the grace to persevere.
A SONG FOR THE DAY
The greatest help to persevereing in love is a moment's reflection on how God perseveres with us. Our sins they are many, His mercy is more.
What love could remember no wrongs we have done
Omniscient, all knowing, He counts not their sum
Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Praise the Lord, His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness, new every morn
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
What patience would wait as we constantly roam
What Father, so tender, is calling us home
He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
What riches of kindness he lavished on us
His blood was the payment, His life was the cost
We stood ‘neath a debt we could never afford
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more.
Matt Boswell and Matt Papa
You can worship HERE.
A PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Our ever-merciful Father in heaven,
Forgive us for giving up on others. Forgive us for thinking that they were beyond change and beyond redemption.
Thank you for your persevering love with us. You never give up. Where sin abounds there grace does much more abound. Teach us to love like you love.
For we ask it in Jesus' Name,
Amen.
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