Love is the Bond of Perfection

 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Colossians 3:14 (NKJV)  

Do you remember the days when you thought twenty-five, thirty, or forty was ancient and you believed that when you reached those life milestones, you would finally know everything and life would be a breeze? But those birthdays came and went and you realized you still felt pretty clueless about many things.  

Over the years, one thing I have sometimes felt clueless about is love. No matter how much I have read about it, doing it is an entirely different thing. Still, I have prayed over the years and  asked God to teach me how to love.

One day many years ago, after pondering about loving God’s way, I wrote the following thoughts in my journal. If you too want to love others well, perhaps these words will encourage you.    

If beauty held within it some magic power to create lasting love, all of Hollywood would be abounding in love. If success held within it the power of committed love, all the world’s richest and most powerful would be most in love. However, love does not come to dwell in perfection, for no one is perfect. My love for another is not produced by the object of my love. It exists in me when I choose to love the unlovely and imperfect, and I thereby receive the love I need by being the lover first.  
“. . . Love is the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3:14).  

If I searched the world over and found that which I perceived to be perfect and therefore gave my love away, I would soon be disappointed by the illusion of perfection. I could wander my entire life on an endless search for perfect love and I would never know love. I would never experience the joy of giving grace to another, of accepting without condition, of loving wholly with a pure heart, not seeking for self, because love gives. I am a victim of the lies of the world if I believe I can only love the beautiful, successful, or perfect. Christ died and placed the love of His heart into mine so that I can love with His love. He loves the imperfect; He loves me.  

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).  

Prayer: 
Lord, thank you for loving me so I can love. Please continue to give me a humble heart, and help me to put others first. Help me to recognize any subtle selfishness in my heart that would destroy the love I can experience with others. Thank you that you are always willing to teach me. Amen.    

By Shana Schutte