Pursue Love

Why must we pursue love? Because we need to. Love is a might, a power, an element that is part of life itself. Only those who have received this love can live the life of Christ. If we have love, we do not say this ought to be like this or that, because love is like that. 1 Cor. 13:4-7. We do not possess love if our life is not as it ought to be. We must pursue love until we lay hold of it, and then our life becomes like it ought to be.

The flesh cannot subdue love, but love can subdue the flesh. Love keeps God’s commandments! Love is not found in us if we do not keep the commandments. Then we must pursue it until we receive it. Love is a very strong and good power. There is a strength that is not good. If I have love, it fills my heart and mind; I keep God’s laws and I am good, genuinely good.

What is lacking first and last and foremost is love. Paul says if we do not have love, we are nothing. When Jesus returns, He will fetch those who have fervent love. The ones who are lukewarm will be spewed out of His mouth. They would have to be in Him in order to be spewed out. This is serious.

One of the most glorious passages in the Bible is found in Song of Solomon 8:6-7. We ought to read this very carefully: “Strong as death . . . .” Is death strong? The largest bodies of water cannot quench love. Think of the largest bodies of water you know of. They could be poured out over love without affecting it. This is the power that we can receive into our heart. What is water, spiritually speaking? It is opposition, malice, lies, envy, injustice, and such things. Take the greatest and worst things you know. They cannot quench love. The most detestable things about my neighbor are like great bodies of water, but they cannot quench love. Is this not something to pursue? Put aside all other things, at least until you have found the best: Love!!!

If anyone asks you if we should pursue other things, just say: “No, we must pursue love first.” Paul says, “The love of Christ compels me.” In other words, it has authority. People are inclined to be slow one time and quick another time; one time they are of good courage and the next time they are discouraged. Love is not in our hearts if we get offended. Then it is only imagined love, a surrogate that is easily quenched with a little squirt of water. Yet it is written, “Many waters cannot quench love.” What was it then that burned? The surrogate, and a very poor surrogate at that! However, there is something else to be laid hold of. Pursue love until it sits on the throne of your heart!

Does anyone have this love? Yes, he who gave these exhortations and those who have followed him since. And I, miserable wretch that I am, possess it, and no one has been able to quench it, even though they have tried. Do you think anyone would ever give it up once they have received it in their heart?

Unfortunately many believers still continue to be evil, in spite of the fact that they have been converted ten to twenty years. They have not laid hold of love. Throw away the surrogate and lay hold of the real thing which many waters cannot quench. We must pursue it, not just sit around—pray until we lay hold of it. We must become serious! Pray! We could almost say to God that if He would only give us love, we would not ask for anything more.

Even water will burn when the heat of a fire is sufficiently intense. Hallelujah! In other words, whatever evil others might do to me only causes me to become more fervent.