The Power of Love

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath

 no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. Isaiah 53:2

I have the official announcement that another of my grandchildren is engaged. That is right.

 Kylie is now engaged to Chandler. As the days progress towards their marriage, I pray for them.

 Most of us know that marriage, like anything else, is filled with expectations and hopes. We

 also know that Satan looks for kinks in the armor whereby he might inflict the greatest hurt.

 In other words, don’t make promises you can’t keep.

In my role as a host at the place I work, I often times kid around with couples about their relationships.

 I point at a tray the two of them have filled with leftover trash and offer to take it to the trash

 This usually results in a bit of laughter. What I find most alarming is the comment, “We are way past

 that.” With all sincerity I respond, “You are never too old for romance.”

Romance begins our relationship and often is destroyed, innocently enough, by one or the other party.

Without proper communication between husband and wife hurt and distance is the result. No matter how

innocently the thought, the separation has occurred. What was done by one effected the other. There is

 no real secret to relationship. Men, for the most part, look for physical love, and women, for the most

 part, look more towards emotional love. When this suddenly stops, so does the love they have expected.

Communication between the two is paramount, but so is the repair. What is the repair? Prayer with the

desire to fix the issue. Whatever the fix then pursue it.

If we read 1 Corinthian 13:1-13,

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

The truth about charity, or agape love is found. Do we see the physical

 or the emotional love relationship? Hardly, but here is the truth about love. True love belongs to God.

 He gives this to His children. His love is full of understanding, giving and more. When we look at the

 man or woman of our youth and have married them, can we say with love them as they truly are or do we

 seek to change them. If they come from a Christian home, then the love instilled in the man or woman

 was done so by parents who devoted themselves to God’s leading and teaching. The idea of “Changing”

 the man or the woman to fit our desires will not work. They were trained with a set of core values,

 and they are part of them, always.

My children and grandchildren should know this. Look beyond the physical and the emotional and think of

only Christ. Pure love begins with Him. This leads me to ask, “Are you saved?” Then seek His ways for you

and your wife. Instill these things into your children. Teach them that the real source of love is found

in Christ. Look beyond the man or woman you want to marry and look to see if you first see Jesus Christ

in them. Only then can you understand the power of true love. Afterall, He willingly gave His life out

of love for His own.