Several years ago, I was appointed to a church whereupon the first year several members who had left for various reasons had returned. Some of those who had previously left the church had created quite a fuss prior to their departure. Those who remained with the church carried unfavorable memories of their counterparts, and in some cases, held grudges. I was seeking a way to help reconcile the differences between these two groups of people when a very wise woman shared with me an insight. Judy said:

“[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.   Love never fails”
(1 Corinthians 13:7-8a, NIV).

     Paul’s wrote, “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8, NIV). He used the word persevere to describe love’s eternal character. Persevere is a military term. When entering into combat, soldiers worked together in groups of two. Each duo would tether themselves to one another, so that neither man could run away. Persevering is about staying power. To persevere means that two people keep their connection even in the heat of battle.

“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:6-7, NIV).

     Robert Fulghum once told of the time he attended a Greek wedding. During the reception, the bride’s grandparents were overheard arguing. In Greek, the grandmother was chastising her husband for taking one too many pieces of baklava. Fulghum turned to a family friend and asked what the conflict was all about. The friend said, “Oh, there’s no conflict. That is just our grandparent’s way of making love.”

“Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ” (Ephesians 5:21, NASB)

     Fear is one of humanity’s greatest gifts. Fear is also humanity’s greatest struggle. Fear is necessary to alert us when danger presents itself. Fear engages adrenal activity in order to help our body move away quickly from potential harm.

“I ask that you’ll have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers” 
(Ephesians 3:18, CEB).