what is love? (baby don't hurt me...)
you've hurt me more than you can see. i try to write it off as nothing but your words play time and again in my head. i want you to understand how i feel but how can i make you? you don't know how far i'd walk for you and what words i'd speak for you, that i would stand for you and lay myself down to sleep for you. if only you'd believe that i love you."love is patient, love is kind. it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. it is not rude, not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. love never fails....
for we know in part...but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. when i was a child, i talked like a child, i thought like a child, i reasoned like a child. when i became a man, i put childish ways behind me. now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. now i know in part; then i shall know fully, even as i am fully known." [1 corinthians 13]
i know love only in part. i know it only as it is being revealed to me through Christ. today i know more than i did five years ago, and five years ago i knew more than i did five years before that. but during this earthly life i will always know only in part. for now we see but a poor reflection of love; we see only what our human minds can comprehend. we don't grasp the complete message of the cross. yet when Christ returns for us, we shall stand face to face with love Himself. then i shall know fully, even as i am fully known. and for the first time in my life, i'll understand love and be capable of love in its full form. when perfection comes -- when we are made perfect in Christ -- the imperfection of our earthly love will disappear... until then, we know in part and we prophesy in part. until then, we love to the fullest degree that we understand love. we love to the degree that love is revealed to us, through Christ and through people....if you want a standard with which to judge my love, read those verses. i'm not perfect -- i love only in part -- but someday i will be. and i do (love you).
::i can only imagine/ what it will be like/ when i walk by Your side/ i can only imagine/ what my eyes will see/when Your face is before me/ i can only imagine::surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel/ will i dance for You Jesus, or in awe of You be still/ will i stand in Your presence, or to my knees will i fall/ will i sing hallelujah, will i be able to speak at all/ i can only imagine/ yeah i can only imagine::i can only imagine/ when that day comes/ and i find myself standing in the Son/ i can only imagine/ when all i will do/ is forever, forever worship You/ i can only imagine::surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel/ will i dance for You Jesus, or in awe of You be still/ will i stand in Your presence, or to my knees will i fall/ will i sing hallelujah, will i be able to speak at all/ i can only imagine....i can only imagine:: [mercyme]
and i can, only imagine. because i can't comprehend the feeling of standing in the presence of Christ, and knowing that you are completely pure in His sight, not a blemish in His eyes. spotless and pure. every past sin and struggle forgotten forever, as if it never existed. and you, purified as though you never were filthy in the first place. who can explain such a thing? that's love in its fullest form. what WILL my heart feel? i can only imagine -- and i can't wait.
maranatha, Lord! come quickly!