Читать книгу Deep, Soulful Places - Elizabeth J Pierce - Страница 8

This chapter in the Bible on love is one of the most frequently read chapters at weddings. And it’s no surprise that it’s so popular. It describes what everyone wants their friend, family and romantic relationships to be like. But it is not only describing earthly love. Read the verses for yourself, and soak in what they are saying about His love for us.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:1–8, 13)

How did that feel for you? Could you soak in those words and own them as a description of the love you feel from God? I suspect that some of you can. For me, I picture it feeling like the soothing comfort that a hot bath brings to tired, cold bones (a long, hot bath is my go-to for most of what ails me).

For others, it may have caused a longing in you to soak those words in and own them in your life. You know there is a bathtub; you just don’t know what it feels like to soak in it and be soothed and comforted by its warmth. For whatever reason, you’ve only ever taken a shower. Never to soak in the warm water—it’s only been to get clean.

I also need to acknowledge that some of you may not have been able to think about that description of love in relation to God and His love for you because of how far it is from your current earthly relationships. They have tainted your view of all love. Many relationships are less than ideal.

For almost two decades I have sat with women as they have grieved the loss of the relationships they thought would offer them this kind of love and have had to work on healing from the abuse they suffered instead. I’ve also sat with countless women as they have worked through the pain caused by unmet needs and hurt and dysfunction in their families. And I’ve walked this path with friends and family members as well. So, I know that for some, hearing “I love you” doesn’t feel anything like 1 Corinthians 13. It feels a lot more like a maximum security prison. That is not what God wants for you in any relationship. Especially not with Him.

Let’s just look one more time at the words that describe love. I’ve included in parentheses what I believe the “love is” equivalent would be. I like thinking about things in terms of what is. Patient. Kind. Doesn’t envy (love is happy for others). Doesn’t boast (love is modest). Not proud (love is humble). Not rude (love is polite). Not self-seeking (love is selfless). Not easily angered (love is stable). Keeps no record of wrongs (love is forgiving). Does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. Always protects. Always trusts. Always hopes. Always perseveres. Never fails (love is reliable). Never. God’s love never fails, anyway. Which is why it is the only love that will fill that deep longing we all have.