The original Greek text of this passage uses the word agapeseis, the root of which is agapao, which directly translates to mean "to love." Not love as a feeling, but love as an ACTION. You don't experience love, you DO love. Love is a choice. We choose God, we choose to love others, just as God chooses to love us.
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 take into account a wrong 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.--1 Corinthians 13:4-8
I don't know if you've ever chosen to love someone this way. Not the unconditional love that comes with families, the kind that says "I have to love you, but I don't have to like you." There's an awareness that we are required to love these people with whom we share biological or genetic or familial connections. Beyond the basic choice to love, is the choice to do so unselfishly. It's the most painful and exhilarating way to interact with another human being. It's the ultimate in forgiveness, in turning the other cheek, in saying to someone,
"I don't care what you've done, or who you are, I love you, flaws and all, no matter what you do or say."
This kind of love does not come naturally to us. It's the complete antithesis of God's attribute as an ethical being, comprising holiness, righteousness, and love. Of course, humanity being fallen since the entry of sin, we are born running from this perfect expression of love. We try to love other people on our terms, conditionally, saying that they are only good enough when they act in the ways we want. This is not love.
What would it cost you to not care about what they do, or how they let you down, or the pain they cause?
What would it cost you to love them anyway?
Would it cost you your pride, your feelings, your tears, your time?
Would it cost you your life?
If you're not willing to sacrifice the last one, then it's not really love. Our lesson in love comes from Jesus, as He died on the cross for us. Real love is Jesus hanging on a cross, bleeding and thirsty, alone and bereft, taunted and ridiculed, and saying to us,
"I don't care what you've done, or who you are, I love you, flaws and all, no matter what you do or say."
My love is over, it's underneath, it's inside, it's in between
The times you doubt Me, when you can't feel
The times that you've questioned, "Is this for real?"
The times you've broken, the times that you mend,
The times you hate Me, and the times that you bend,
Well My love is over, it's underneath, it's inside, it's in between
These times you're healing, and when your heart breaks
The times that you feel like you've fallen from grace
The times you're hurting, the times that you heal
The times you go hungry, and are tempted to steal
In times of confusion and chaos and pain
I'm there in your sorrow under the weight of your shame
I'm there through your heartache, I'm there in the storm
My love I will keep you by My power alone
I don't care where you've fallen, where you have been
I'll never foresake you, My love never ends.
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