Love Never Fails

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not keep a record of wrongs suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

As I was memorizng this verse earlier today, I was thinking about what it really means. In the context of marriage, this means that no matter what happens in that marriage, whether it be adultry, lies, deceit, even the wost thing you could possibly think of (which for me is adultry), if you truly love that person, your marriage will last.

In the context of my walk with Christ, I was thinking of all the times I committed spritual adultry when I idolized something, chose to do things other than worship Christ, chose to sin rather than obey or whatever else I may have done contrary to the Christian life, God never left me. He kept no record of wrongs, He was (and is) extremely patient. I need to have perfect love like that. It is impossible this side of heaven but I need to love as best I can. I can go as far as to keep no record of wrongs, not be provoked (or in another translation, "easily angered") and I can endure all things because of Christ living in me.

I have failed so many times to love those who frustrate me and who I just don't get along with but Christ has called me to love with unconditional love as He has first loved me.