Sunday, May 06, 2012

The Greatest of These (1 Cor. 13:8-13)

Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
(1 Corinthians 13:8-13, NASB)

Love is the only thing that will endure. Love for God. Love for others. Anything else we do on earth will “be done away” and “cease.” All spiritual gifts that God has given us to build His kingdom will also cease. Because when we stand face-to-face with our Father, we will have fulfilled His purpose on earth, and prayerfully, we’ll hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

And while we may understand some of God’s purpose and will while we’re here, one day, we will “know fully just as [we] have been fully known.” The mirror into which we now see dimly will be clear.

So while we’re on earth, we need to love as Jesus loves. With patience, kindness, mercy, and grace. We need to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to love unbelievers and show them the love of Christ. And we need to love our God—Father, Son, and Spirit—heart, soul, mind, and strength.

For, indeed, the greatest of all things is love.

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