We’ve come to the end of our reflections on Paul’s profound description of “gospel-love”-the love that Jesus has for us and the love he intends to extend through us to one another. The “always-ness” of this love, as described in verse 7, makes it quite clear to me that Paul is rooting this affection in the limitless love of Jesus, not in the supply of our love tank! Duh… no rocket science of an insight there! In so doing he is simply underscoring the essence of the whole Christian life: We are to come alive and stay alive to how Jesus relates to us in the gospel, and then offer this glory, his glory, to one another.
Only the safe love of Jesus enables us to protect one another, for we find shelter in his mercy and acceptance in his grace. Only the trustworthy love of Jesus enables us to trust and to trust again, because the pain of broken promises and betrayals would make it impossible otherwise. Only the resurrection love of Jesus enables us to hope, because sometimes it’s just easier never to hope again than to hope and be disappointed one more time. Only the tenacious love of Jesus enables us to persevere with difficult people and in difficult situations, for left to our own heart affections, we just get worn down and worn out. Only the never-failing love of Jesus enables us to own the ways we fail at loving well daily, and then repent, believe the gospel again, and stay present until the Day Jesus comes back to make all things new.
One Day, dear brothers and sisters, we will be as lovely as and as loving as Jesus. Until that Day, let’s ruminate, marinate, and saturate in His love-the only love that will never let us go, the only love that is enough, the only love that is always.