Love That Never Ends

What is love?

My husband and I had an interesting, albeit heated conversation the other day regarding love. Particularly unconditional love. He claimed it doesn't exist. Not even in the Bible.

At the time, I was too flustered to quote Scripture (I know, I know...) but reflecting upon our conversation throughout the week, a verse suddenly came to mind:

"But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

--Romans 5:8

While we were still sinners.

Did you catch that?

He loved us even when we were wicked, sinful creatures. Beyond hope.

Is that not unconditional love?

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."

--1 Corinthians 13:4-7

To me, unconditional love is the only true love.

Where would we be without it?

There is no fear in love. (1 Jn. 4:18)