Last week I started to read a book called A Love Worth Giving by Max Lucado. I’ve had this book for about 10 years, and I’ve never opened it. I don’t know why I kept it so long, except that now I’m reading it, and it seems particularly relevant.

Inside the jacket it says, are you low on love? Down to your last does of forgiveness? Scraping that bottom of the barrel on patience? You may be trying to give what you’ve never received. The secret to loving is being loved.

In the first chapter, Max discusses the classic love verses in 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. “Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

I’ve heard and read these verses enough times to feel they’re getting a bit cliche, a nice sentiment! But as Max points out later, who can ever live out these verses? Put your name in there and see how far you get. Elizabeth is patient, well that’s it, I’m out.

Max goes on to say no one can meet it, no one, that is except Christ.

Does this passage not describe the measureless love of God? Let’s put Jesus’ name in there. Jesus is patient. Jesus is kind. Jesus does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud. Jesus is not rude, He is not self-seeking. He is not easily angered. He keeps no record of wrongs. Jesus does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Jesus always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Jesus never fails. Rather, let this scripture remind us of a love we cannot produce or resist. God’s love!

From David’s and Sarah’s sharing I feel that we need this reminder this morning. I need this reminder this morning. Do you need this reminder this morning? The reminder of God’s love personally for you.

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