Love Never Fails

Of all the things that love dares to do, the ultimate is a marriage that endures through thick and thin. Though threatened, it keeps pursuing. Though challenged, it keeps moving forward. Though mistreated and rejected, it refuses to give up. Love never has to fail. Many times when a marriage is in crisis, the spouse who is trying to make things work will go to the other, declaring in no uncertain terms that no matter what has happened in the past, he or she is committed to this marriage. And what a blessing that can ultimately end up to be. Their love can be counted on to last.They have promised. There are times though that the other spouse does not want to hear this, and will hold on to their position of not making amends. They have come to a point in their mind, and they want out. They just don't see this marriage lasting long-term. Nor do they even want it to last anymore. The partner who has just laid his or her heart on the line, extending the olive branch, can't handle the rejection. It hurts too much. So feeling helpless they withdraw their statement and say, "Fine. If that's the way you want it, that's the way it will be." If love is really love, it doesn't waffle when it's not received the way you want it to be. If love can be told to quit loving, then it's not really love. Love that is from God is unending, and unstoppable. If the object of its affection doesn't choose to receive it, love keeps giving anyway. Love between two who committed their lives to each other doesn't have to fail.......Never! Have you let God into your marriage? When you have done everything within your power to obey God, your spouse may still forsake you and walk away. Jesus followers did it to Him and who could have been a more loving and caring person? If your marriage fails, if your spouse walks away, let it not be because you gave up or stopped loving them. True love never fails. The unchanging Holy Spirit is the source of love and is the same Holy Spirit who dwells in the hearts of all believers. And because that is so then the love He creates in you is unchanging as well. If you would allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with His love then when all else seems to fail, the truth of God will still be standing. You need what it takes to be patient and the power to be unselfish. At times you will need to sacrifice for your mate's needs. These are not just loving ideas. The quality of love is based on the love of God; captured and expressed in the unchanging Word of God. No challenge or circumstance can occur that will ever put an expiration date on Him or His love, nor His Word. Your love, coming from God's example can bear the same unchanging characteristics. It's time to put your unfailing love into the most powerful, personal words you can express and declare that no matter what imperfections exist - both in you and in your spouse - your love is greater still. No matter what you or your spouse have done that is or has been hurtful, you must choose to love them anyway. You may have been far from steady in your treatment of them over the years, but now the days of inconsistency with your love needs to be over. Accept your mate as God's special gift to you, and promise to love them until death. Choose to love your spouse under any circumstance........Forever (My thoughts with The Love Dare, pages 191-193)! Sherry