the search for true love
"By obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves for a genuine love." —1 Peter 1:22
We all want "genuine love," true love, love that will last forever. Yet we all find that what we thought was love often proves not to be the real thing. Human beings are deceived about love probably more than about any other aspect of life.
We can have genuine, true love only in Christ, Who is Love (see 1 Jn 4:16). We are prepared to give true love by being purified, especially in the context of obeying the Lord in being true, that is, faithful to Him and the people He has put into our lives. True love is based on countless true sacrifices, true conversations, true promises, true repentances, true forgivenesses, etc. When we obey the Lord and choose to be true to Him and others no matter what it costs, our lives change. Selfishness, pride, lust, and unforgiveness are removed from our lives. We are purified. After so many acts of truth, we eventually live in a state of true love. We receive without obstacles the constant, deep, true love of the Lord for us, and we let that love flow through us constantly. We live in receiving and giving true love.
Prayer: Father, send the Holy Spirit so that I will "do the truth in love" (Eph 4:15, our transl).
Promise: "The Son of Man has not come to be served but to serve - to give His life in ransom for the many." —Mk 10:45
Praise: Robert and Martha need to forgive each other frequently but their marriage not only survives but grows in love.
Reference: (For information on Presentation Ministries' Summer Discipleship Retreats, June 29 through July 20, or our Married Couples' Retreat June 7-8, e-mail retreats@presentationministries.com or call 937-587-5464.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Giles H. Pater, November 15, 2001
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, November 16, 2001