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In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Love is the most excellent way. The Bible not only tells us that it is. It tells us why it is.
Yesterday, we saw where love never fails and I shared a very personal testimony as to how this truth revealed itself in my life. We have also learned about the wonderful qualities of love, how it is patient and kind, rejoicing in the truth while always protecting and trusting and hoping and persevering. We also have discovered all the things that true love, the kind of love that the Lord desires, is not. The scriptures have shared with us that love doesn’t envy or boast or show pride. It doesn’t dishonor others or self serve, or give way to anger, keep records of wrongs, or delight in evil.
Love as the Lord created it to be is unique and special, a holy emotion that is above every other. It’s this latter truth that we find in today’s single scripture verse, verse 13 of 1 Corinthians 13. Here’s what it tells us as we wrap up this seven devotion series:
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (NIV)
Looking at the New Living Translation, we find this rendition of this verse, one that adds clarity and understanding to the verse. It reads like this:
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. (NLT)
If we were going to ask for three things to last for a lifetime, I think we would want these three things: faith, hope, and love. I find it interesting that the Bible actually ranks these because as we see from the Word, love is the greatest of the three. It’s supreme, above faith and hope.
This only further reinforces that love is the most excellent of ways, more excellent that than faith, more excellent than hope.
But why? Why do you thing that love would be held in the highest esteem in the Bible?
Well, go back to the words of Jesus when He was asked about the greatest of all commandments. What did He say?
Here’s a refresher:
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.
One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with this question:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it:
‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:34-40
What is the greatest commandment? This is what Jesus was asked and note that he provided two, one above the other but both sharing the common theme of not faith or hope but rather love.
First, love the Lord with everything that you are and everything that you have. When you do, then His love becomes your love.
Then, take the love of the Lord and extend it to others, to your neighbors.
Our Savior Jesus, the One who God has placed in full authority over all things in heaven and on earth, proclaims that love is the greatest by commanding everyone to do it and do it the right way. Further, Jesus saved us out of love, the love He had for us and the love His Father had (and has) for us when He sent His son to bring us the chance for salvation.
Indeed, love is the most excellent way, a way that never fails, a way that is greater than anything else we are capable of doing.
Thanks be to God that He gave it to us as a precious gift and blessing, fully expressed through Jesus, His Son.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Feel free to leave a
comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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