1 Corinthians 13:13 – All About Love

“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Love is pretty great, isn’t it? I’m a fortunate one to have experienced a lot of it in my life. Starting with loving parents I now have an adoring husband who continually showers love. The blessing of love comes also from our children and other family, but there’s more. God has provided an army of little ones, some of whom have children of their own now, and whom I’ve been honored to serve and teach about Jesus over the years. I can totally see how love can last forever.

Context 1 Corinthians 13: Known as the “love chapter” in the Bible, today’s memory verse is the sentence that brings that chapter to a close. Paul gives us a good idea of what love is and is not in this chapter. Love is certainly something we want in our lives for always and forever. Thanks to what Jesus did for us on the cross, we can experience love for eternity.

I’m glad that faith and hope last forever, too. The strength that comes from faith and hope cannot be measured. These gifts are personal to us. In other words, my faith looks different than your faith, and the things I hope for or that make me hopeful are unique to me as well.

What does your faith look like? Are you confident in the one true God? Do you see how his desires often differ from the world view? Does your trust in the Father top any other source that may be screaming for your attention? It’s time to wrestle with your faith a little bit today. Ask, “Where or in whom do I put my faith?”

The third gift is hope. What hopes and dreams have God placed on your heart? The hope that lasts forever points to our hope in Jesus’ return for us. Our hope in that future day can be the fuel that gets us through each day. When things are looking drear or out of control, I often cling to this hope. I love the reminder this verse gives to never give up hope.

Paul says the “greatest of these” is love. Of the three gifts Paul lists, love is the one we both receive and give away. Just as we can feel loved, we have been called to love others. Jesus himself gave us that command. John 13:34 says, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”  Such a great verse, a memory verse all in itself.

Loving like Jesus is hard, isn’t it? But that’s what we’re called to do forever. Love isn’t going to go away. Jesus displayed intense love when he sacrificed himself for us and defeated the grave. When we reflect on that, we can’t help but experience the jolt in faith and hope, but most of all love.

Let’s pray. Lord, You are my number one, my everything. I love you and bow down to your majesty, acknowledging your sovereignty. Renew my spirit today. Ignite my faith, rekindling my hope so that I can love more fiercely those you have given me to love. May I see those around me through your eyes, always gratefully sharing about your mercy and forgiveness. Thank you for how you have moved in my life to make me right in your sight. Forgive me for all my failings. Help me do a better job of living a devoted life to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.