Love always perseveres.  I Corinthians 13:7b

      The word persevere in this verse means “to remain under.”  It’s a military term meaning “to stand in battle.” This is the kind of love that will fight for the relationship and “soldier up” instead of being a whiny baby about what life owes you and how you feel cheated.

     Paul Miller wrote a book called “A Loving Life” and I love the title he gave a chapter on enduring love: “Love Burns Its Passport”. He writes:

“Love will not grow if you check out and give in to the seductive call of bitterness and cynicism—or seek comfort elsewhere. As we keep showing up for the story that God has permitted in our lives, we learn to love. Then God shows up, too. Godly love is love without an exit strategy. Your response to the other person is entirely independent of how that person has treated you. How do you do that?  By being rooted in God. Your life energy needs to come from God, not the person you are loving. There is nothing fair about this kind of love. But commitment-love lies at the heart of Christianity. It is Jesus’ love for us at the cross.”

      In the book he shares a story about his friend Tom who worked at a church. He had gone to his boss to share with him a concern he felt for the way the boss was treating another member of the staff. The pastor was not used to being confronted, so in response, he began to marginalize Tom—not inviting him to key meetings. Occasionally, he would belittle him in front of others in a passive-aggressive way. Tom was embarrassed and felt powerless. Then he remembered the verse: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (Jn.12:23-24).

     Paul Miller says Tom chose to accept this situation as long as God allowed it, and he saw Tom become more humble and Christ-like. “In his dying, God had resurrected Tom into a person who exuded the powerful presence of God in his life.”

     I want the powerful presence of God in my life, but I’d rather it happen some other way. Dying? I want to say “no, thank you.” But I know I am called to love. And sometimes it feels like dying—laying down my life for someone who, often, does not respond in gratitude or in kind. But if this is the way we are to show we are Christians, no wonder it’s a military term. It’s a battle the enemy does not want us to win. So I want to “soldier up” and love, to stand in battle, to keep showing up, so help me God!   

*What relationship makes you want to look for exit signs? Will you “burn your passport” and decide you’re not going anywhere?

God, You showed up even when you wanted to say “no, thank you” to the cup of suffering Your Father asked You to drink. But You didn’t look for an exit sign; You demonstrated Your love by dying for me. I didn’t deserve it, but I am eternally grateful! May I show that kind of persevering love wherever You are asking me to! Help me to stand in battle and obey. Because of Calvary I pray, Amen.


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