63. Unquenchable love.

Scripture doesn't say 'God has love' but 'God is love' (1 John 4:16) because God just doesn't possess love but is the origin and source of love. Therefore the word 'God' can also be used as a synonym for 'love' and if we substitute the word 'love' with 'God' and 'it' with 'He', then the verse in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 will be read thus: 'God is patient, God is kind. He does not envy, he does not boast, he is not proud. He is not rude, he is not self-seeking, he is not easily angered, he keeps no record of wrongs. God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. God never fails.' How can you not fall in love with such a person! His love intoxicates us 'for his love is more delightful than wine'.(Song of songs 1:2) He was not ashamed to publically display his love for us 'for his banner over us was love'.(2:4) He did not shy away from death on the cross because 'love is as strong as death, it's ardour unyielding as the grave'. Nothing could quench the flame of his love for us because 'It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away.'(8:6-7) If only we understood this unquenchable love of God, nothing in this world would have conquered us because 'we are more than conquerors through him who loved us'. (Romans 8:37) The key to grace is in loving God just as he loved us! 'Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.' (Ephesians 6:24) Amen.