ALWAYS/NEVER

These two words have been playing tag in the back of my mind for quite some time.

Is this quote familiar to you: "Never say 'never'" ? 

There's some wisdom in this saying, depending upon the setting. 

I assume that most of us are "guilty" of exclaiming, 

"I would never do that!"  

(and, then, we do);

or, 

"That will never happen!" 

(and, then, it does)

And, then I thought, "What will my family say about me when I'm gone?"...

Mama always.....always.....always....always WHAT?!  What have I always done? 

Good or bad; but, here I am thinking of something positive, something "good". 

For instance:

"Grandma always brought us something special when she came to visit." 

"Mama always read her Bible, first thing, every morning." 

"She always controlled her temper." 

It saddens me a little that I am so mortal that there is nothing I can think of that applies. The truth is that I have done things I thought I would "never" do, and thought certain things could "never" happen (that did), and have not been so faithful at anything that one could say, "She always...."   

Now, my thoughts turn to the One Who IS that faithful!!!...

The One Who says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) ...

The One Who never sinned, nor ever told a lie. (1 Peter 2:22) 

The One Who is "able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them." (Hebrews 7:25) 

The One "Who  always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place." (2 Corinthians 2:14)  

The One Who said, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35)

Oh, so many more verses could be added here; but, I leave you to your own study and pondering. This next part is where my pondering led me...the "love chapter". The well-worn, oft-quoted 1 Corinthians 13. Please take the time to read it for yourself, in its entirety, even if you already know it by heart. First, it tells what love is. Then, what love is not. What love does and does not do. I like verse seven: "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." And, the clincher is verse eight: 

"LOVE NEVER FAILS" !!!

All the other things -  prophesy, tongues, knowledge -  will be "done away"; but "when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away".   

But, LOVE NEVER ENDS!!!

I think I know upon what I will be concentrating for the remainder of my years.  It won't be to always have the right answer, or never say the wrong thing. It won't be to always be on time, or never miss an appointment. It won't be to always wear a smile, or to never be disappointed. 

It will be to love as Christ has loved us. 

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, 

an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." 

(Ephesians 5:1,2)

"Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, 

because love covers a multitude of sins." 

(1 Peter 4:8)

"YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, 

AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, 

AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; 

AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 

(Luke 10:27)

Always remember, and never forget, 

God is love. 

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; 

and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 

The one who does not love does not know God, 

for God is love. "

(1 John 4: 7-8)