Isn’t that what we all want? what we all spend our lives longing for, looking for, waiting for, desperately desiring – that one perfect love? Perfect love is the stuff of Shakespeare’s sonnets, fairytales, country-western ballads, Hallmark movies, today’s romcoms and yesterday’s Austen novels. Perfect love is the stuff of myth and of legend. But does perfect love actually exist? This is the ever elusive question we each endeavor to answer in our own time and our own way. We want to believe perfect love is out there somewhere – this is what keeps us going through our toughest times and our darkest days – the thought that somewhere out there is someone who will love us perfectly and forever.

Perfect love proves stronger than all opposition and always triumphs in the end. The handsome prince rescues his beloved against all odds just like it happened for Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella, perfect love prevails and rescues its recipients – the objects of its desire. Wish someone loved me that much – enough to pursue me, break down barriers to reach me, enough to face danger, enough to give their life for me. That’s the kind of love I’m talking about – where is that kind of love today?

Where is that great love? that love that transcends time? I read about it in John 15:13 – Jesus is talking to His disciples and describes love in this way –

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

Jesus would soon demonstrate this great love He has for each one of us, by dying on that cross to redeem you and me for His own. I guess that’s going to pretty great lengths just to rescue me (and you, dear readers) – we are the objects of His affection. His love for us definitely transcends time.

“Long ago the Lord said to Israel, ‘I have loved you, My people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself.’ ” (Jeremiah 31:3)

Perfect love is sacrificial – Jesus gave up everything to come here and rescue me –

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6-8)

Perfect love is timeless, it is lasting – perfect love doesn’t give up –

“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ ” (Hebrews 13:5)

“If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalm 139:8-10)

Perfect love is unafraid – there is no fear, only freedom in perfect love

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)

Perfect love is an action verb – not a feeling, and the actions of perfect love are many –

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is 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.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

The prince in Cinderella went to great lengths to find his true love, his perfect love. He thought he had lost her forever. But he left no stone unturned or more accurately, no foot unmeasured against the glass slipper which was his only link to his perfect love. He did not stop until he found his perfect love, Cinderella. In the same way, my Heavenly Father, has spared no expense in His pursuit of me.

“For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.” (Isaiah 43:3-5)

“He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

what is perfect love?

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)

perfect love sacrifices self for its beloved – the ultimate act of perfect love

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

God’s love = perfect love!

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

as God’s children you and I are perfectly loved! we can stop searching – our Prince has come for us, He has conquered sin and death, He has moved heaven and earth to make us His own – He holds out the glass slipper, made a perfect fit for each one – His perfect love has purchased our pardon. His perfect love is ours now and forever!

sincerely, Grace Day