June 7, 2023: Love Does Not Quit

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Corinthians 13:7, ESV)

As Paul goes deeper into explaining the characteristics of agape love, these next four are words of intensity. 

Number one, love bears all things! 'Bears' comes from the Greek word 'stego,' meaning to cover, protect, and shield. When agape love is near, it covers people like a roof to protect and shield them.

Number two, love believes all things. 'Believes' means putting faith or trust in someone or something. Faith has the ability to believe the best in every situation. It makes no room for doubt but chooses to see the best. Agape love believes the best in people. It refuses to give up. It does not know how to quit. This is how our God loves us!

Three, love hopes all things. It always expects and anticipates the best. The Greek word 'elpidzo' means an expectation of good things. The agape of God always expects the best in others. It lives anticipating the best being seen in others. Again, it refuses to quit or give up expecting!

Four, agape love endures all things! The word 'endures' comes from a word meaning to abide under or stay under. It is a picture of a person under orders to do a thing. They are not allowed to surrender or give in. This gives us the picture of the facet of agape love that will never throw in the towel! God never quits on anyone, and neither should we! Love bears all, believes all, hopes all, and endures all. Love does not quit! It is committed to the end! That's intense!