Jesus loves me this I (think?)

Who won?  We ask that in so many areas of life.  Who won the debate, the game, the divorce proceedings, the argument at work.  It is odd that as the world embraces this idea of relativism, thinking that there is no absolute truth on any issue, it is also becoming more black and white.  The reality is that people are very uncomfortable with gray areas.  Even sub-consciously we can't really allow ideas to float around freely in our mind.  Everything has to fit into some kind of order.

Ask 100 people to define love and you will probably get 150 different answers.  Try as we might, Love is a really hard concept to grasp.  Now try to explain to someone that God loves them.  "Really?  Then why do I still struggle?"  Or the opposite extreme.  "I know.  That's why I know I am going to heaven when I die no matter how many mistakes I make."

So many people who have told me they know someone loves them.  How do you know, I often ask.  "I know because they would do anything for me.  I know they really want to be with me."  How do they respond when things get difficult?  "They bail."  How long will their love last?  "I don't know."  

Love always lasts.  Always.  ALWAYS.  Not most of the time or some of the time or 78.3% of the time.  LOVE ALWAYS LASTS.

True love is the one force in this universe that can't be stopped.  The reason is simple.  The Bible says that God is love.  Real love is not the emotional, up and down, rip your heart out experience that the world has come to relate with.  It's not passion and romance.  Love is faithfulness.  Love is saying something and being true.  Love is seeing value in people no matter what.

In Malachi, The Lord says that the proof of His love is His faithfulness.  He never gives up on us.  The Love of God is always there, waiting for us to admit we need him.  To surrender to His love.  And to let His love dictate our lives.

If we know God's love by his faithfulness, that means we can't truly know His love until we trust His faithfulness.  Until we start living like we expect Him to be faithful, His love will remain foggy, confusing, frustrating, and disappointing.  But when we truly trust Him, His love is amazing, never failing, and life giving.