Paul continues to describe what the love of God looks like when lived out from a pure heart. His first letter to the Corinthians—thirteenth chapter, seventh verse, as translated in the Amplified version—says that “Love endures all things without weakening.”
Did you ever see Unbreakable with Bruce Willis? He plays a lowly security guard who, after surviving a train wreck, discovers that he has super powers. There’s this really cool scene where, after realizing something’s amiss having lived through such a horrific accident, he’s in his basement lifting weights with his young son. His son is spotting him while he’s lying recumbent on his weight bench. Willis’ character (I forget his name) benches the barbell and finds that it’s quite easy, so he has his son add a plate to either side. Again, lifting it turns out to be easy—doable, so he tells his son to add more weight. Add. Lift. Add. Lift. This cycle continues several times. Do you see where this is going and how this applies to the scripture mentioned? Anything that his son adds to the barbell, he’s able to lift. This, after only recently discovering that he had abilities far beyond the average human. God’s love for us and in us enables us to do the same.
“Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee. Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in Thy name.” (Psalm 63:3-4)
God only allows circumstances that we—in love—are able to endure. That question is taken care of with this scripture: “God will not allow you to be tempted (challenged) beyond what you’re able to overcome. He’ll also provide that means of overcoming…” (1 Corinthians 10:13; my translation)
You see, we can take what life tries to throw at us without wavering and weakening in our love. As we live out the love of God toward others (and God and ourselves) we will find that the love we receive from God grows and multiplies. Yet this is life. So much more exciting than the funny books!
In closing, think about what Asaph was going through when he composed Psalm 75. Verse 3 says that “the earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it.” The pressure he was feeling for whatever reason was immense. Yet God enabled him to bear it. God’s love in our life enables us to do the same.
One Thought at a Time 