SCRIPTURE: 1 CORINTHIANS 13
MEMORY VERSES:
“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. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
LOVE (vs. 1-13)
THE MOST EXCELLENT WAY OF SHOWING LOVE:
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 prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have no love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have no love, I gain nothing.
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 evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
Prophecies will cease; tongues will be stilled, and knowledge will pass away. When I was a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. Three things remain: Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is Love.
THOUGHTS:
God gives us spiritual gifts in order to build up, serve, and strengthen fellow Christians. However, love is more important than spiritual gifts. In exercising our spiritual gifts of faith, acts of dedication or sacrifice, and miracle working power, there is little effect without love. Love makes our actions and gifts useful. This kind of love goes against our natural inclination so that it is impossible to have it unless God helps us set aside our own natural desires. This kind of love does not expect anything in return.
Paul offers a view of what love is. Love is the greatest of all human qualities, and it is an attribute of God himself. Love involves unselfish service and care to others. Faith is the foundation and content of God’s message. Hope is the attitude and focus and love is the action. May we become more Christlike so that we can show love to others.