Love Never Fails

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 NASB

Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. [9] For we know in part and we prophesy in part; [10] but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.

Paul redefines for the church in Corinth their existence purpose. They were very well equipped in all gifts of the Spirit but that made them prideful, and they started comparing, competing and dividing against each other.

In this comparing, competing, and dividing they lost the essence of their very mission and identity. They forgot what the most excellent way was, that is love, and went on their way to claim spiritual superiority over one another; to sue one another in public courts; and to abuse the communal meal. In the midst of so much confusion, even incest was found amongst them.

But Paul comes to remind them of their purpose. All of the gifts will be done away, will cease. All the knowledge will be set aside one day when the one who is perfect, Christ Jesus our Lord, comes. What will not be done away and will count to the very end is love.

When I read the words “love never fails” I am just so aware that we, as human beings fail all the time. We fail in all our relationships. But when I am busy learning and trying to practice the love that Christ showed me on the cross, I then realize that this is the very center of God’s will for my life.

Other things will disappear over time. Yet the worth and significance of love will endure for all time.

Romans 13:8-10 Voice

Don’t owe anyone anything, with the exception of love to one another—that is a debt which never ends— because the person who loves others has fulfilled the law. [9] The commands given to you in the Scriptures—do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not take what is not yours, do not covet— and any other command you have heard are summarized in God’s instruction: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” [10] Does love hurt anyone? Absolutely not. In fact, love achieves everything the law requires.

And again Galatians 5:14 Voice

For the whole law comes down to this one instruction: “Love your neighbor as yourself,”

Matthew 7:12 NASB

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

1 John 4:7-12 NASB

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. [8] The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. [9] By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. [10] In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. [11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. [12] No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.

Love never fails, therefore:

• Love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Mt 5:44
• Love God with all we have and our neighbor as ourselves. Mt 22:37-39
• Love God and hate the love for money. Lk 16:13
• Love less the approval of men and love more God’s approval. Jn 12:43
• Love one another as He loved us. Jn 13:34 – 15:12
• Keep His commandments. Jn 14:15
• Abide in His love. Jn 15:9
• God has prepared things the eye has not seen, ear has not heard and that have not entered the heart of man to those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9
• If we love God, we are known by Him. 1 Corinthians 8:3
• God is rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us. Ep 2:4
• We should walk in love, just as Christ walked in love and gave himself for us. Ep 5:2
• We should love Christ with incorruptible love. Ep 6:24
• We will receive the crown of life, if in endurance we remain faithful. James 1:12
• We should fervently love one another from the heart.1 Peter 1:22
• There is no cause for stumbling in us if we love and walk in the light.  1 John 2:10
• Do not love the things of the world, because if you do, it means the Father’s love isn’t in you. 1 John 2:15
• We are not from God if we don’t love one another. We should love one another. 1 John 3:10-11.
• We should love in deed and truth, not only with our tongue. 1 John 3:18
• If we love, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:12
• We love, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Remember:

Love is the most excellent way!