Depending on the moment, certain bible verses can stand out and speak to us in a new way. As I work on my overall theme for my writing, I know I want to write about hope. Hope in Jesus and hope in our lives.
I also want to write about love. Jesus’ love and romantic love. I came across a bible verse that jumped out at me with this exact theme. Then I opened my bible to find it and what I read was completely different.
It took me a minute and then I remembered there are lots of different translations of the bible. I wanted to find the specific one I saw. So I dug a little deeper and of course, Googled it. Sure enough the version I was looking for was the NLT (New Life Translation). It reads like this:
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:7.
I looked a bit and found a few other translations.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres – NIV
Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. – NKJV
I find it interesting the different words that are used to say the same thing and how they speak to us differently at different times.
I like the idea that in a romantic story a couple who find “true love” have withstood whatever conflict has been thrown at them. They ultimately did not give up on each other and what they have ended up with is something wonderful and special.
I like how this verse can communicate that.
But after pondering a while on all that, I could see a bigger truth in this statement.
God’s love never gives up
God’s love never loses faith
God’s love is always hopeful
God’s love endures through every circumstance.
That no matter where you are or where you are going, God loves you.
Always (NIV version), in Everything (NKJV). And his love will bear all things. God’s love always protects. God’s love always perseveres. He’s not going to shelter us from things happening. But his love for us will help us persevere. Through anything.
There’s a peace in that thought. Something to take root in our hearts. Because when we are full of HIS Love, then we can love others the way God wants us to.