"Love . . . does not seek its own."
1 Corinthians 13:5
She had been divorced for several years, but she could still remember his parting words as though they were spoken a few hours ago. He said, "I don't love you anymore, and I don't need you." Those words would not go away as she grieved their divorce. Her best friend said to her, "Those words of his proved nothing more than his selfishness, and real love is not selfish. One day you will find someone who really loves you."
A couple had a plaque on the wall in their living room. These words were inscribed on it: "I don't love you because I need you. I need you because I love you." They were married more than fifty years. The secret of their successful marriage was real love. They were unselfish in their relationship. They were living proof of real love. Love does not seek its own.
God loves us with an unselfish love. God does not love us because He needs us. God loves us because He is love (1 John 4:8, 16). Love is the very essence of His being. His love pursues us. The story of the Bible is a divine romance. A personal relationship with God is summarized in a few simple words: "We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).
God's love is proven for us at the cross of Jesus. He gave His only begotten Son for us. He died for us, to take away our sins. The perfect picture of unselfish love is Christ crucified. That's the God-kind of love. It's real love.
God, deliver us from selfishness. Fill us with love.
