Elusive Love?

This story is for those who desire to find love yet somehow it eludes them. It is for those who THOUGHT they were in love, only to find themselves shipwrecked on some remote desert island. Your story can have a happy ending, if you so desire. Interested?

Let's start with the concept of love itself. Where does love come from? How and where do we find it? So many questions! Let's begin with a Bible verse, shall we?

"So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." - 1 John 4:16

Store that away for a moment and consider this: God created all things. He also created man in His own image. Do you then suppose that man is capable of showing love to others?

Yes, we CAN love, but then why don't we? Why are there some people who hate? Including ourselves. That's because of sin. God WANTS us to love one another.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." - John 13:34

All the pieces seem to be there, so why are we not finding love? Again, it's sin - in us, and in others. But the biggest component is the Holy Spirit. Are we SURE we have the Holy Spirit; or do we THINK we do. That's a real question we all must answer.

"It takes two to tango," so we need to make sure that both parties in our love relationships are saved (ie. a follower of Jesus). And yes, that's plural. We are to love everyone.

To be clear, 'love' has many different meanings. We are talking about unconditional, sacrificial love here. Agape in the Greek.

If we still haven't found love at this point, the last two components in our search for love are prayer and patience. Earnest, honest, vulnerable prayer. And a patience for as long as it takes.

We might say, "But I want love now!" Look at that statement. "I want." What about what "God wants?" And "now" sounds like impatience. Selfishness and impatience are sins.

It comes down to our faith in God. Our faith in Jesus. Is it real? Or just superficial? Are we SURE we know Him, or do we just know about Him?

Have You Been Sealed?