Love Never Fails
1 Corinthians 13:1-8 (NCV, New Century Version)
I may speak in different languages of people or even angels. But if I do not have love, I am only a noisy bell or a crashing cymbal. I may have the gift of prophecy. I may understand all the secret things of God and have all knowledge, and I may have faith so great I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I do not have love, then I am nothing. I may give away everything I have, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing if I do not have love.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures.
Love never ends. There are gifts of prophecy, but they will be ended. There are gifts of speaking in different languages, but those gifts will stop. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will come to an end.
Reflection
Have you ever had a young child climb up in your lap to snuggle? If you are a parent, this has undoubtedly happened. Maybe as a grandparent, aunt or uncle, you too have experienced this. Isn’t it a wonderful feeling when that child snuggles in and looks up at you with adoring eyes? So full of love and trust, no agenda, totally innocent and guileless. Did you look at that child on your lap, and feel love, devotion, and comfort pour out of you? There are so many emotions attached to love, both as you give it and receive it.
The pure, unentangled love of Christ is offered to us every day. As today’s scripture illustrates, God puts love above everything else, even above faith and all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Nothing is more important to our God than love. As recipients of God’s love, we must accept that even though we did nothing to deserve it, it is ours to take and be blessed by. But are we just as open with the love we give?
God wants and expects us to love others, just like that adult who felt love and devotion to the small child snuggled in his/her lap. And what didn’t Paul say about love? He didn’t say “Love is difficult and complicated, conditional, and optional.” I know how hard it is to love others without jealousy, pride, impatience, and a dozen other emotions creeping in, because I experience some of those feelings every day. Trying to love others, especially those you feel have wronged you, is never going to be easy, but it is something Christ wants us to work on every single day.
Action Steps
Think about people you know, but struggle to love. Can you think of any good traits they have, that might help you to think differently about them? Pray and ask God to help you put aside all petty feelings you have toward them, and to help you remember they are just as deserving of God’s love as you are. The very reasons you may find them hard to love, could be exactly why you need to pray for them and love them.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for surrounding me with Your love. With every person I encounter today, please help me remember how much love means to You. Give me a heart full of uncompromising love, and let Your light shine in me for all to see. Amen.
I may speak in different languages of people or even angels. But if I do not have love, I am only a noisy bell or a crashing cymbal. I may have the gift of prophecy. I may understand all the secret things of God and have all knowledge, and I may have faith so great I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I do not have love, then I am nothing. I may give away everything I have, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing if I do not have love.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures.
Love never ends. There are gifts of prophecy, but they will be ended. There are gifts of speaking in different languages, but those gifts will stop. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will come to an end.
Reflection
Have you ever had a young child climb up in your lap to snuggle? If you are a parent, this has undoubtedly happened. Maybe as a grandparent, aunt or uncle, you too have experienced this. Isn’t it a wonderful feeling when that child snuggles in and looks up at you with adoring eyes? So full of love and trust, no agenda, totally innocent and guileless. Did you look at that child on your lap, and feel love, devotion, and comfort pour out of you? There are so many emotions attached to love, both as you give it and receive it.
The pure, unentangled love of Christ is offered to us every day. As today’s scripture illustrates, God puts love above everything else, even above faith and all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Nothing is more important to our God than love. As recipients of God’s love, we must accept that even though we did nothing to deserve it, it is ours to take and be blessed by. But are we just as open with the love we give?
God wants and expects us to love others, just like that adult who felt love and devotion to the small child snuggled in his/her lap. And what didn’t Paul say about love? He didn’t say “Love is difficult and complicated, conditional, and optional.” I know how hard it is to love others without jealousy, pride, impatience, and a dozen other emotions creeping in, because I experience some of those feelings every day. Trying to love others, especially those you feel have wronged you, is never going to be easy, but it is something Christ wants us to work on every single day.
Action Steps
Think about people you know, but struggle to love. Can you think of any good traits they have, that might help you to think differently about them? Pray and ask God to help you put aside all petty feelings you have toward them, and to help you remember they are just as deserving of God’s love as you are. The very reasons you may find them hard to love, could be exactly why you need to pray for them and love them.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for surrounding me with Your love. With every person I encounter today, please help me remember how much love means to You. Give me a heart full of uncompromising love, and let Your light shine in me for all to see. Amen.
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