“Love is patient; love is kind. Love isn’t envious, doesn’t boast, brag, or strut about. There’s no arrogance in love; it’s never rude, crude, or indecent—it’s not self-absorbed. Love isn’t easily upset. Love doesn’t tally wrongs or celebrate injustice; but truth—yes, truth—is love’s delight! Love puts up with anything and everything that comes along; it trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 VOICE)
We all want to be loved unconditionally and be accepted for our true selves. We want others to be patient, kind, humble, and decent with us. Nobody wants a self-absorbed spouse. If anything, each of us would prefer to be in the center. We don’t want to put up with mistreatment, but we would like others to ignore our inequities. We want others to sacrifice for us, but not the other way around. Even when we give of our love, we expect reciprocity. We keep a tally and want returns on our investment. This is natural.
Supernatural love is patient, kind, selfless, sacrificial, tolerant, and enduring no matter what. This kind of love can’t be dredged up from our natural sentiments. In fact, it doesn’t even make sense from a worldly standpoint. Pouring out love without expecting equal parts back seems unfair.
Divine love is sacrificial, unconditional, and limitless. Christ loves us this way. He stooped low to assume human form. His humility led to a humiliating death. He suffered sacrificially for our sake. Even though humans are not able to love with the same intensity as God, at times, Divine love pours through us into others. Like a flood, this supernatural love erodes our self-protective boundaries. This spiritual gift can neither be instigated nor controlled by our own power. God’s love is made complete when it is fully expressed through us.
Lord Jesus, pour out Your love through us. Grant that we may love You and each other supernaturally.
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