Freedom Calls

As children of the Most High God, we are called to emulate the character of our heavenly Father.

The apostle Paul pens a poignant description of God’s love, stating,

“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

1 Corinthians 13:7,

This passage serves as a powerful reminder of God’s unwavering love for us, and our responsibility to reflect that love in our relationships with others.

Protecting Love

The Greek word “prostasia,” translated as “protects,” conveys the idea of God’s watchful care over His children.

This concept is echoed in Psalm 91:4, which says, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” (NIV)

Charles Spurgeon beautifully illustrates this idea, stating,

“God’s wings are broad, and beneath them is perfect peace; God’s wings are strong, and beneath them is sure safety.” (Morning and Evening, August 22)

God’s protective love is not limited to physical harm; it also encompasses spiritual protection.

The apostle Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 3:3,

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” (NIV)

This promise is a beacon of hope in a world fraught with spiritual dangers.

Trusting Love

The phrase “always trusts” highlights God’s unwavering faithfulness.

Despite our failures and shortcomings, God remains steadfast in His love for us. As D.L. Moody so eloquently put it, “God has never failed to keep His promise, and He never will.” (Moody’s Bible Characters)

This trustworthiness is rooted in God’s very nature, as stated in Psalm 119:138,

“Your decrees are very righteous; therefore my heart is set on obeying them.” (NIV)

This aspect of God’s love encourages us to trust Him implicitly, even when we cannot understand His ways.

As CS Lewis so poignantly wrote,

“He is not a tame lion.” (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe)

God’s love is not limited by our finite understanding; rather, it transcends our comprehension.

Hopeful Love

The phrase “always hopes” underscores God’s eternal optimism.

Despite the darkness that surrounds us, God’s love remains a beacon of hope.

As Watchman Nee so beautifully wrote, “Hope is the expectation of good things to come. It is the anticipation of blessings yet to be bestowed.” (The Normal Christian Life)

This hope is rooted in God’s promises, as stated in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)

God’s hopeful love inspires us to look beyond our present circumstances, fixing our gaze on the eternal.

As the apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:24-25, “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (NIV)

Persevering Love

The phrase “always perseveres” underscores God’s unwavering commitment to His children.

As the apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NIV)

This persevering love inspires us to emulate God’s character,

persevering in our relationships with others.

As CS Lewis so aptly put it, “Love is not an affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.” (Mere Christianity)

God’s love is not fleeting; rather, it is an enduring, persevering commitment to our well-being.

The apostle Paul’s description of God’s love in 1 Corinthians 13:7 serves as a powerful reminder of our heavenly Father’s character.

As we reflect on God’s protecting, trusting, hopeful, and persevering love, we are encouraged to emulate these qualities in our relationships with others.

As children of the Most High God, may we embody the unwavering love of our heavenly Father, that we might bring glory to His name and bless those around us.