Are you in need of (re)new(ed) love?

And now, these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

So how do you feel about the future? Be honest.

I have written about faith two weeks ago and then hope last week. I must admit that I was daunted to try and write anything about love. First, because there have volumes written about it. Second, because there are so many misconceptions regarding love. Ancient Greeks tried to simplify the challenge by having 7 different contextual words for our one word of love.

The love I’m writing about is a love toward others. It was important enough to God that He devoted a whole chapter to it in 1 Corinthians 13. This is not a self-serving love. There’s an excess of selfish love of self in this world already. We call it narcissism at its most extreme. Narcissism seems to be increasing.

The kind of love I want to describe is decreasing. Matthew 24:12 says, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold." Maybe you thought the world seemed a little colder, a little more loveless, harsher, crueler. It’s not just your perception.

The need to love and be loved is real in humankind. To love another with selfless love is to be fully human. One other truth is also important.

God loves you. Yes, you. I hear the protestations. “You don’t know what I’ve done.” “You don’t know what happened to me.” Yes, He does. He knows. “I hate God.” Nonetheless, He loves you. Begin there. He wants a relationship with you. He wants you to know Him. He wants you to know His love. Your future will start to change beginning with those first steps in a deeply fulfilling relationship with Him if you’re willing to pursue it. Faith, hope, and love will spring up like new plants from seed in your soul. Help them to grow.

If you want to explore the source of love read the Gospel of John. If you don’t have access to the Gospel of John. Stop by North Summit Church and I will give you a free one.

Bud McConnaughey serves on the staff of North Summit Church, 201 N. Division, Sandpoint. If you want to know more about Jesus Christ and His hope, contact us at northsummit.com. We’ll be glad to help you or refer you to numerous local congregations and pastors in Bonner or Boundary County.