“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13
These words come at the end of a very familiar chapter in the Bible sometimes referred to as the love chapter. Portions of 1 Corinthians 13 have been spoken at weddings, put to music in lyrics of songs and repeated as poetry. This chapter tells us the characteristics of love in verses 4-8a.
A quick study of chapter 13 will show that it is a continuation of chapter 12. Here, Paul names parts of the body of Christ, such as apostles, prophets, teachers, etc. While all are important in the ministry of Christ and not to be ignored, some may think one job is more important than another, but as Paul states in 12:31b, there is only one thing that is the most important or “the most excellent way, that is love”.
It was God’s love for us that caused Him to send Jesus into the world. It was Jesus’ love for us that made Him go to the cross for our sins. It was love that caused the father to welcome his prodigal son home. It is love that can restore families torn apart and hurt. It is love that can give new life to the addict. It is love that can reach the sinner and bring them to Christ. 1 Peter 4:8 says to “love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of wrongs”.
May we always reach out in God’s love and share it in a way that others will come to know His salvation. Faith, hope and love; may we always strive to share the greatest of these — LOVE.