Tag: Love never fails
Love is the greatest gift!
Scripture reading for July 23: 1 Corinthians 13
“Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:8-13
As Paul wrote to correct the Corinthians and instruct them in spiritual gifts and offices, he wrote one of the most famous teachings on love that are found in literature. The Corinthians had been zealous for the gifts of the Spirit and the offices of leadership, but failed to act in love. Paul noted the fact that love never ends or becomes obsolete. This is not true of many of the other gifts. Prophecies would be fulfilled or forgotten. Those excelling in knowledge will find that their knowledge, no matter how vast, is just a drop in the ocean of God’s knowledge. Those speaking in other tongues would one day cease to be able to speak at all or the spiritual language they used would be replaced by a more perfect language.
The truth of the matter is that we all are like children growing up spiritually. We initially know only a little but eventually know that we don’t know anything! So Paul’s wise advice was to follow the more excellent way of love. (1 Corinthians 12:31) Love covers a multitude of sins. Love never fails to do what is excellent and helpful to build up. The gifts must be undergirded with love or they fail God’s purposes. Without love, God’s Word can become harsh and unfruitful. We may not understand this fully now, but when Jesus comes, it will be fully comprehended by those following Him.
Have you ever left out love from your spiritual gifts or pursuits? Can the gifts of the Spirit work effectively without love? As you read these verses from 1 Corinthians 13, what aspects of love would you ask our Lord to increase in your life?
Prayer: Loving Father, thank You for sending a river of Your amazing love in Your Gift of the Holy Spirit. Forgive me for not always allowing Your love and mercy and goodness to be my priority in doing works of service. Keep my heart focused on the flow of Your amazing love. Amen.
Lord, I need love!
Scripture reading for August 17th: 1st Corinthians 13, Psalm 14, Proverbs 9
1st Corinthians 13: 1-8 “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”
Because of sin and selfishness, mankind is bankrupt when it comes to God’s kind of love. We can have all sorts of talents and gifts, but without agape love, the love that gives to help another, they are meaningless. We often lack patience and kindness with others. Envy and boasting cause division and strife. Resentment and irritation come out of us instead of blessing and rejoicing and long-suffering. Fortunately, God’s love becomes available to us through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Our spiritual growth after new birth by faith is governed by our growth in learning to love like our Lord. Lord help me to love like you!
Psalm 14:2-3 “The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; there is none that does good, not even one.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the greatest gift, Your amazing agape love! I receive it and embrace my need to grow in my ability to love You and others. Fill me daily with the Holy Spirit. Give me opportunity to share love. Keep me from folly, the loud and seductive voices of this world that try to use me in unloving ways of impatience, irritation, resentment and strife. I am glad Your love never ends!
Proverbs 9:13-16 “The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!””
Love never fails!
Scripture reading for July 23rd: 1st Corinthians 13
Paul had explained the various gifts of the Holy Spirit and how God distributed them to each person as He desired in order to help the believers. As wonderful as these gifts were, Paul emphasized the need to allow the love of God to saturate each person as a foundation for proper exercise of the gifts.
“And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (1st Corinthians 12:31-13:3) The Corinthians were actively using the gifts but some had gotten prideful concerning how God was using them. They lacked the love that made their gifts ‘excellent’.
“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.” (1st Corinthians 13:4-8) Paul gently instructed the Corinthians and us about the way of love. Pride and arrogance block God’s excellent way of love. Anger and rudeness stop the common good that should result from God’s gifts in operation. The way of love protects and trusts and hopes for God’s best. In the end, love never fails to produce the ‘excellent way’!
Love never fails!
Scripture reading for August 20th: 1st Corinthians 12:27-13:13
Each person has been placed in Christ’s body by God as it pleased Him! (1st Corinthians 12:18) We are all arranged and joined together in such a way to function as a unit to accomplish God’s purposes. God appointed some ‘gift people’ to help with the teaching, equipping, and administration of His body. But no matter what gift you may have, God has encouraged all to desire the greater gifts and to pursue the most excellent way: the way of love!
Paul gives us one of the best descriptions of what love looks like that was ever penned! “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.” (1st Corinthians 13:4-8a)
We can have all the gifts and be filled with faith, but without love we amount to nothing. Pentecostal and charismatic Christians have to be careful in this regard. The church at Corinth was flowing with gifts of the Spirit, but lack of love caused divisions and many other problems. Our flesh can easily get in the way and cause the love of God to cease flowing in our life. Faith works by love. (Galatians 5:5-6)
The proper exercise of the gifts also requires faith and love working together. The gifts are for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of the body. Christ loves His church and all is to be done through love. Love is not rude, boastful, or self-seeking. Love is humble and seeks the best for the other person. Pride and envy are not part of God’s kind of love! His love doesn’t keep record of wrongs and doesn’t remain angry with another person. His love trusts and protects and hangs in there for the long haul. In the end, love like this never fails to produce God’s highest good for the other person and for the Church of Jesus Christ!
“Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1st Corinthians 13:13) When all else fades away, love remains the greatest gift of all! Will you ask God for a fresh revelation of His love today?
The way of Love
Scripture reading for November 24th: 1st Corinthians 11-14
God gives each person gifts through the Holy Spirit that are to be used to build up the body of Christ. (1st Corinthians 12:7) These gifts may be characterized in three general categories. There are those gifts that impart knowledge–word of wisdom, word of knowledge and prophesy. Other gifts are used to do something: gifts of healing, miraculous powers, and faith. Another type of gift is used to reveal something: discerning of spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. These gifts are given by the Lord through the Holy Spirit as He determines they are needed. (1st Corinthians 12:11)
In addition to these manifestations of the Spirit, God has also appointed different offices to help with the work of ministry. Some are apostles, sent to evangelize and plant churches. Others are prophets and teachers who equip the body for ministry. Others work miracles and facilitate divine healing. Others may be good at administration and management. Still others speak in tongues and others interpret. (1st Corinthians 12:28-31) God places these gift-people in the body just as He sees fit! (1st Corinthians 12:18)
We are all encouraged to eagerly desire the greater gifts! But Paul cites the most excellent pursuit as the way of love! (1st Corinthians 13) We can have any number of the gifts, but without love they are empty and useless. Love is the vital ingredient because the gifts must be used with love and compassion. God’s heart is to love and heal, not just to do something! God Himself is love! He is patient and kind with us. He is not easily angered, but is always ready to forgive. He forgives and never keeps a record of the wrongs done ! He delights in truth and righteousness. His love never fails!
He encourages us to love like He does. Love is the greatest gift that we can ever have and give! We must first follow the way of love and then desire the gifts. (1st Corinthians 14:1) Take time today to check your heart. Are you following the way of love? How’s your love life with God? Are you taking time to love Him and allowing His love to flow through you? Invite the Holy Spirit to release a fresh ability to love others in your heart today.
Love never fails!
Scripture reading for August 20th: 1st Corinthians 12:27-13:13
Each person has been placed in Christ’s body by God as it pleased Him! (1st Corinthians 12:18) We are all arranged and joined together in such a way to function as a unit to accomplish God’s purposes. God appointed some ‘gift people’ to help with the teaching, equipping, and administration of His body. But no matter what gift you may have, God has encouraged all to desire the greater gifts and to pursue the most excellent way: the way of love!
Paul gives us one of the best descriptions of what love looks like that was ever penned! “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.” (1st Corinthians 13:4-8a)
We can have all the gifts and be filled with faith, but without love we amount to nothing. Pentecostal and charismatic Christians have to be careful in this regard. The church at Corinth was flowing with gifts of the Spirit, but lack of love caused divisions and many other problems. Our flesh can easily get in the way and cause the love of God to cease flowing in our life. Faith works by love. (Galatians 5:5-6)
The proper exercise of the gifts also requires faith and love working together. The gifts are for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of the body. Christ loves His church and all is to be done through love. Love is not rude, boastful, or self-seeking. Love is humble and seeks the best for the other person. Pride and envy are not part of God’s kind of love! His love doesn’t keep record of wrongs and doesn’t remain angry with another person. His love trusts and protects and hangs in there for the long haul. In the end, love like this never fails to produce God’s highest good for the other person and for the Church of Jesus Christ!
“Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1st Corinthians 13:13) When all else fades away, love remains the greatest gift of all! Will you ask God for a fresh revelation of His love today?