October 8, 2018

LOVE

1 Corinthians 13:1-8, 13

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Personal Challenge

This may be one of the most complete definitions of love. There is nothing that I could add to this passage except a prayer for forgiveness. I desire to be loved this way and to love others this way, and yet I find myself far short of loving others, even those closest to me this way. And it is for this that I seek forgiveness, both from my God and those in my life whom I should be loving this way. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!