Love in the Sandwich Line

• 1 Corinthians 13:13 (MSG)
• 1 John 4:1 (MSG)

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"Trust steadily, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly" -- I saw these attitudes on display by a young married couple moving through the sandwich line at a local Subway recently. They held hands, they often looked into one another's eyes, they smiled at one another often, her eyes were large, trusting, adoring. He was her protector, and stood confidently at her side. In just the 20 feet or so of the sandwich line they kissed 3 times. Such is the sweetness of young love.

As wonderful as this human love was to see, and for them to experience, it is destined to falter at times, and maybe completely fail, in the face of the usual hardships and wounds of adult life. Betrayal, sickness, caring for children, financial hardship, power struggles, all of these "realities" erode the first fresh hope of love.

But Paul writes of a love that does not falter and does not fail. What love is he referencing? What love is needed to redeem our actions from mere display having no value to small actions hardly seen that may have pure and limitless value?

1 John 4 is a chapter that clarifies the love we have living within us when we are followers of Jesus. This love is born from God, and we love from its resources not because we loved first, but because God loved us. We are only "natural" and without God cannot love in this "supernatural" way. When we invite the Holy Spirit to live mightily within us by a surrendered heart, then the wellspring of love overflows. We can love as Paul directs: "extravagantly." I love that word to describe how we are to love: holding nothing back, giving away everything, without a thought of "will there be enough left for me". We can love this way because the Father loves us this way, and is our provision.

So, today consciously set your attitude upon love. Call upon the Holy Spirit to fill you with an overflowing availability. Be patient not just with others, but with yourself. The work of the Spirit upon your heart is ongoing. Just for today, be just a bit more open, and bit more receptive, and yes even a bit more extravagant with your love.

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