"Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8)
Cindy Hess Kasper writes: "One evening my friend showed me one of the three decorative plaques that would be apart of a wall arrangement in her living room. "See, I've already got love" she said, holding up a plaque with the word written on it. "Faith and hope are on order."
So love comes first, I thought, faith and hope soon follow."
(Our Daily Bread 10/10/2015)
This gift of love, is the greatest virtue in the world. The apostle Paul makes it very clear in 1 Corinthians 13, that without love, we will accomplish nothing. The gift of prophesy will fail, the gift of tongues will cease, and the gift of knowledge will vanish away. But enveloping and exhibiting the gift of love, is the key to developing maturity and being productive, in the kingdom of God.
Love never fails. Whoever loves, is always faithful, reliable, and steadfast. One who loves, can be counted upon continually. Even in the face of opposition, hurt, and harm, love is there. And that is the test of love. It is easy to love those who are lovable; but with those who are not, it can be a challenge. In our society today, love is lacking in so many ways. But when love is shown, it helps to encourage faith, and hope. Love is the foundation that will help support unity instead of division, which is so prevalent today.
To have a love that never fails, will take a commitment to be like our Lord Jesus Christ. How He loved people, is the way we should love people. His focus, was always on others. He came into this world to make a difference for man-kind; and indeed He did. How can our love make a difference in the lives of people; even in the lives of those who are not lovable?
His love never failed, and neither should ours! GP
Photo: sabinevanerp/276 images/Pixabay License/Free for commercial use/No attribution required/www.pixabay.com