As I thought about the true story of María Belón and her family's experience of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, a verse came to mind. While this verse may be very familiar, and often overused, it accurately describes the power of love. 1 Corinthians 13:7-8, "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (And we know the rest) "LOVE NEVER FAILS..."
LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS
- What can life possibly throw at us that love cannot handle? I'm sure there are some people who would argue with my point, but if you see the depiction of this family's struggles you will discover the power to go on through any circumstance. The love of God, as portrayed in Scripture, is more than an emotion. It is a powerful force that will go through Hell to ensure that no one is lost. His love has carried the weight of the world. It did not buckle under the weight of our humanity. He bore our sorrows, our sickness, and our sin. Is there anything that love cannot help you bear?
LOVE BELIEVES & HOPES ALL THINGS
- I was blown away by their determination to never give up. Their love for one another drove them to face the impossible, to never give up, and to never lose hope. This is the abiding nature of love in our lives. While life may seem chaotic or lying in the wake of destruction, the love of God is the glimmer of hope that keeps us pressing forward. Is it any wonder that Jesus describes Himself as the light of the world? He came to clearly represent the Father in a dark world. His life, ministry, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension give us the hope that is found only in unconditional love.
LOVE ENDURES ALL THINGS
- The endurance of God's unconditional love is seen even today. While our world is far from perfect, we serve a God whose very nature is patient endurance. He longs for us, looks for us, and continually reaches out to us. Whether this family realized it or not, their story is one of the endurance of unconditional love. It's a love that would wade through any mess. It's a love that handled every trial. A love that never, ever, gave up.
LOVE NEVER FAILS
- The story of this family is one of tragedy and triumph. But it does beg the question (at least for me): Why must we wait until tragedy strikes to tap into the love that is within us? I realize that this is the norm for most people. However, everything inside of me screams that this kind of love is possible every day. I don't have to wait for a disaster to pursue my family. I don't have to wait until all Hell breaks loose before my wife and kids are my main priority. I don't have to wait until we are separated before I stop living in selfishness. You may think that I'm living in a fantasy world but I'm not. I am trying to live in an alternate reality. It's called the Kingdom of God and we have the opportunity to see it manifest here on Earth.
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This movie is not for the faint of heart. Some scenes will not be suitable for small children. For those of you who are willing to endure the emotions that will rise up within, you will be inspired. As with most tragic events in our lives, it's easy to revert back to the way we were before. Think about 9/11. Think about the shootings at VT. These events brought out the best in humanity during the aftermath. The struggle in life is to maintain that focus well after the fact. BUT...with Love...NOTHING is Impossible.
Ask the Lord to manifest His love in your life today. See how strong you are while bearing heavy loads. Take notice of the faith and hope that rises to the surface. Rejoice at the endurance that is found in His unconditional love. And be willing to carry this incredible treasure every day. NOW...go love on somebody!!!
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