Love Never Fails

I love God's kingdom. It is the family we have been blessed with to help and support us on this long road to heaven. It is the physical manifestation of the protection we have been promised by God. How precious it is! God's promises are perfect and true and his kingdom, his family, is included in that perfection! The structure he has put in place is solid and reliable. Unfortunately this structure is populated by us...the imperfect. And because of this our spiritual family, just like every other family of humans, has the tendency towards dysfunction.

I came across this picture on Facebook. It is an excellent description of marriage. It also translates to all our relationships, including our spiritual family. Just scratch out the word "marriage" and insert "God's family"...you get the gist of it.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. ~John 13:34-35 (NIV)

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. ~John 15:12-13 (NIV)

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ~1 Peter 4:8 (NIV) 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it 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.~1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)