Running out of love

Recently, I had the pleasure of reading a children’s book with my 2 girls.
“You Can Never Run Out Of Love” is a funny, heartfelt and powerful tale about Love by Helen Docherty.
It got me, the adult, thinking about how we can literally be driven by the things that we ‘run out of’ and yet, not be contented by the things that we will never run out of. 

Taking Docherty’s cue, it seems that we can run out of all sorts of things from biscuits, to bread, chocolates, energy, socks, biscuits, money and patience.
The list goes on and we can even create our own impressive list ourselves or with our families. 

Yet, the truth for believing Christians is that we can never run out of things that are close to the heart and nourishing for the soul. Things that truly matter. 

Take for instance – We cannot run out of affirmation and encouragement for others.
It is a matter of choice to provide it.
Likewise, we cannot run of time with family or with God.
It is simply a matter of prioritizing it.
Most importantly, we can never run out of love. 

1 John 4:8 states it very clearly that ‘God is Love’.
That said, those who know God will know what is love and how to love.
The way we love God and vice versa is the way we should love others.
It cannot be mutually exclusive.
God loves us so that we will know what love is and eventually how to love others. 

Thus, we cannot run out of love, because God is love and when we abide in Him, He abides in us too.
We love because He first loved us.
If we know Him, we know love. 

There is a quote in the book that says, “Love is right there inside of you wherever you are, don’t have to charge it, no batteries needed and it can be as big as you want it to be”.
How true that is when we consider who God is and how He wants us to be that channel of His love. 

“No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.” (1 John 4:12, NLT)

Are you running out of patience and kindness lately? 

Are you running out of humility and running with pride unknowingly?

How are you supposed to even love your enemies?

These are real questions that we all face.
How do you tackle them?
You can certainly challenge yourself to love out of the love that comes from God.
He is the source of love that can enable you to love in a manner totally out of this world, never lacking in quantity and quality. 

To me, there is no such thing as falling in and out of love in any relationship.
That would imply that love is just another emotional feeling that goes roller-coastering based on external stimuli. 

If love comes from God, then He is the source.
To love, is a choice, a commitment and a will. 

The best definition of love is expressed by Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 of The Living Bible.

Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him. All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end, but love goes on forever.”

Are you convinced now that you can never run out of love?
So then, why does God want us to have an unending supply of love?

We are all sinful and rebellious and yet the hallmark of love is seen in how much God loves us despite our fallen nature and unworthiness.
God loves us unconditionally.
After all, He sent His only begotten Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
In God’s perfect love, there is neither room for fear nor keeping score.

It is important to note that God does not expect us to have that perfect love like Him.
He does, however, want us to love others truly, sincerely and out of the loving relationship that we have with Him.
If we know, believe and have experienced the abiding love of God, then the fruit is that we will testify of His love and we will also love others the same way.

Let’s put to action in loving others the way God loves us in the way we live.
Run with love by loving God and loving people. 

Reflection and Prayer:

1. Do you really know God and have you invited God to abide in you?
   Ponder and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.
2. How is ‘running out of love’ relating to you today in your relationships?
3. What are some ways that you can love with more capacity and fewer conditions?