Hey friends, how are you today? How was your week? Can you believe we are already in the first week of November? Wow! We have just about two months left in 2026.  I feel like I just got used to writing 2026 and here 2027 comes.  I’m not ready, Lord.  I’m not ready.  How are you, really? Are you ready for 2027? Have you began making plans for 2027?

Last week we began the conversation about love. Love isn’t a separate entity, is it?.  It extends its arms into the ‘do unto others’.    Love cannot stand on its own.  Love disconnects itself from emotions such as fear, unforgiveness and selfishness.  I once heard someone say, they love others completely, but they do struggle with forgiveness.  That’s an oxymoron, isn’t it?

What is love anyway? We say it, perhaps because it sounds good.  But love isn’t flirty. Love has a standard and the God of the Universe gave us the standard.  Love is defined in that standard.  Love is always about others.  Love does the best for others.

So…why are we here? Because friends, inevitably someone or someone(s) will fail to meet our expectations.  Someone within the family group will throw us a curve ball.  Someone will break our heart.  Someone will cause us to see them differently and not in a good way.

We say, ‘I love him or her but…’.  ‘I love her but I have to protect my peace‘. What peace are we talking about?  Can that peace be taken away? ‘I love her but we have to divorce.  I love people, but…‘

Do you know who else has expectations? The Lord does… but He didn’t make ambiguous expectations, thankfully.  He wrote what He expected because He knew we needed to be reminded again and again. And He made these expectations achievable with the help of His Holy Spirit.  He already knew  we are prone to wander.   We like our sense of fairness.  So, He said everyone has to follow His directives.  No one is exempted, no matter the cause.

Before we say we love people, let’s see the attributes of love.  Let’s also realize the futility of it without Christ in our lives.  We simply cannot love without the help of the Master, Himself.  Love expects the impossible, but the God of Universe has already demonstrated the full measure of love.  He set the example and He says now follow.

We have according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-10, the cost of love.  Love is free to others, but it should and perhaps will cost us something.  When we say we love people, there should be evidence of that love.

Love is patient. Do I extend patience to people? Or do I have the tendency to cut them off, when they hurt me?

Love is kind.  How do I demonstrate kindness to others? I need to be considerate and generous and even friendly to others and expect nothing in return.  That kindness should extend to those with malicious intentions, yes even our enemies.

Love does not envy or boast.  We not only want to see others succeed, but we also help them succeed.  We are happy for them and rejoice with them in their blessings.  We know we are loved by our Heavenly Father.  We are blessed because of the love of God.

Love is not arrogant or rude.  Love is not about me or my worth.  Love is always about the other person.  Love gives and keeps on giving again and again and again.  Love is not rude and entitled.  Love is not conceited.  Love sees people.

Love does not insist on its own way.  Loves says I’m not always right.  Love says “I am sorry” and accepts the wrong.  Love seeks peace with others.   Love pursues peace.

Love is not irritable or resentful.  Love isn’t easily annoyed.  Love does not rejoice in the sins of others. Love admonishes without cruelty.  Love disciplines without anger.  Love delights in the truth.  Love rewards the good.

Love bears all things.  When I get tired of people and their ever-present desire to tell me of all their troubles, doesn’t that refute the very existence of my love for them? When the phone rings and I see that number again and I let it ring because I just don’t want to, today; or is that just me? Love bears all things.

Love believes, love hopes, love endures, love never ends.  Love is humble, love forgives.  How do we get there? Only with the help of the Holy Spirit.  It’s impossible to demonstrate love with reservations, to love without limits.  But with the Holy Spirit, all things are possible.  Am I saying that only those who know God, know love? I guess I am, friends.   We are free to love others because of the love of God.

What do you think? Is it possible to love others outside of God? Do you love completely and unconditionally? Is it possible? Have you received such unconditional and unwavering love?