Mature Love

The theme of the Body this year is "It's Time to Grow Up." God's people must become spiritually mature to effectively do the work of the kingdom. Jesus said in John 13:35 that love identifies us as His disciples. How we love each other separates us from the world. In 1997 I attended the Azuza Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This was a life changing event for me. There were several great preachers and words. One of the most impacting was by a pastor on the very last day. She shared her testimony of how her husband contracted AIDS from an intravenous needle. She shared her pains and insecurities and how she planned to leave her husband until the Holy Spirit told her no. She never loved before and needed to learn how to love. She cared for her husband when he became immobile. She bathed him, clothed him, fed him, and prayed for him daily. She remained with her husband until the end of his life. She gave an altar call and hundreds of people with AIDS came forward for healing and deliverance. Couples fighting for their marriages came forward for reconciliation and deliverance. I have never felt the presence of the Lord so powerfully.

We don't see real images of love growing up. We learn how to manipulate. seduce, and control, but not give unconditional love. We learn lust (how to have sex and use sex to our advantage.) We learn infatuation (how to be enamored by lifestyles, things, and possessions.) We rarely learn unconditional love (loved based on purpose and spiritual investment to make people strong enough to complete their assignments.) The love we learn is built on a weak foundation and when tested for purification, people look for a way out, make excuses to leave, and forget the example Jesus set for us at the cross (Romans 5:8). In our most imperfect condition, Jesus gave His life for our eternal salvation. That is true and unconditional love.

John 15:13 says in the Passion Translation, "For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all. And this great love is demonstrated when a person sacrifices his life for his friends."  You cannot demonstrate this love if you are selfish (only concerned about your wants and thinking people exist to please and serve you.) Unconditional love is difficult because it requires we deny ourselves of our wants and needs, often placing others before ourselves. Mature love requires death to selfish ambitions and is willing to help others become who God desires they become to impact the world. Unconditional love is not based on anything other than the power of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. His death is the epitome of love and nothing matters more than the power of this application. Paul's discourse in I Corinthians 13 outlines what love is and is not and in I Corinthians 13:8 he concludes by saying love never fails. The Amplified version says, "love never quits or gives up."

It is time for us to grow up in love - thinking, speaking, and acting like mature disciples of Jesus Christ. Our relationships will never be what we desire until we say "I love you" and mean it no matter what it costs.