Love Always Wins...
"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."
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love always wins. This powerful thought challenged every mindset, thought and action the other morning as I was spending time with the Lord. Love is an action. Jesus chose love. He chose to receive the life changing love from the Father and then give it out to everyone he encountered whether they deserved it or not.
As I reflected on the "love" passage that is so common at wedding ceremonies, it was different than any other time. Verse 7 stuck out like a sore thumb. I have not been operating in love like verse 7 advises because of past hurt.
If love always wins, then choosing love, although very challenging emotionally sometimes, will always produce life. Conversely, not choosing love and it's actions that flow from it, will ultimately produce death....either in self with negative thoughts, fears, strongholds, or with others by damaging relationships.
Which action of love above do you find most challenging? For me, the Lord revealed it is "love always trusts." I can easily fall into the mindset of a skeptic if someone has done something to harm trust. He whispered into my heart, that if He is leading me to trust someone even though it may be hard, I am trusting Him by trusting them.
I recently listened to a message from Andy Stanley, who said, "there will always be a gap where you will have to choose love when it comes to others. There will be a crossroads where we have the opportunity to extend love when it is not deserving. So what will you do in the gap? Will you choose love...choosing to trust, hope, believe the best?"
As we know people are imperfect. There will always be a reason our emotions will excuse us from acting in love "because the person doesn't deserve it." But if we apply this truth and promise from God, then we surrender the right to act on emotions and take a leap of faith. By choosing to love, we are choosing faith...and faith in God that will never fail us. God won, and so when we choose to walk in His love, it will win everytime. Love always wins, so choose love!
Love,
Ashley, your sister in Christ!
