Three things will last forever—faith,
hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
Today is
wholly devoted to the praise of love. The first three verses of 1 Corinthians
13 speak of the absolute necessity of love as the chief thing in our religion.
“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels…if I had the gift of
prophecy…if I had such faith that I could move mountains… if I gave everything
I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body…but if I didn’t love others,”
then, three times repeated, “I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging
cymbal…. I would be nothing…I would have gained nothing.” If I have not love, I
am of no value.
There are
fifteen things said about love, but one sentence sums up its whole nature:
“[Love] does not demand its own way” (verse 5). And again: “Love will last
forever!” (verse 8). Prophecies, unknown languages, and knowledge will vanish
away. Even faith and hope shall be changed into sight. But love lasts forever. “Love
does not demand its own way.” Think and pray about this. “Love will last
forever.” Consider all that means. “The greatest of these is love.”
Let this
love rule in your life. God is love. “God is love, and all who live in love
live in God, and God lives in them” (1 John 4:16). Let your heart be filled
with love so that, by God’s almighty power, you may be a witness to the
transforming power of love. Then you will be a blessing to all around you.
Lord, I am guilty of wanting things to
be my way. I get stuck thinking that my way is best. Forgive me. Help me
instead to embrace Your way, which is the path of love. Thank You. Amen.
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