1 Corinthians 13:1 I may speak in the tongues of men, even angels;
but if I lack love, I have become merely
blaring brass or a cymbal clanging.
2 I may have the gift of prophecy,
I may fathom all mysteries, know all things,
have all faith — enough to move mountains;
but if I lack love, I am nothing.
3 I may give away everything that I own,
I may even hand over my body to be burned;
but if I lack love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind, not jealous, not boastful,
5 not proud, rude or selfish, not easily angered,
and it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not gloat over other people’s sins
but takes its delight in the truth.
7 Love always bears up, always trusts,
always hopes, always endures.
8 Love never ends; but prophecies will pass,
tongues will cease, knowledge will pass.
9 For our knowledge is partial, and our prophecy partial;
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass.
11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child,
thought like a child, argued like a child;
now that I have become a man,
I have finished with childish ways.
12 For now we see obscurely in a mirror,
but then it will be face to face.
Now I know partly; then I will know fully,
just as God has fully known me.
13 But for now, three things last —
trust, hope, love;
and the greatest of these is love.
"Hope Is Found In God’s Love" by Author: Olivia MetcalfThe apostle Paul's famous writing in 1 Corinthians 13 of the Apostle Paul on love begins by talking about great things people can do. He writes of the ability to speak powerfully and prophetically, the faith that moves mountains, and the giver who gives possessions and even their life. However, Paul tells us, without love none of this matters. Love is the essential ingredient for life.
In the middle of this beautiful teaching we read these words, “[love] always hopes” (1 Corinthians 13:7b)–always. That is a long time. What are we lovingly hoping for today? Are we hopefully praying that relationships will be restored and lovingly working to help that to be true? Are we hopefully praying that our churches will flourish? Are we hopefully praying that our churches will flourish? Are we lovingly discipling others and being discipled so that fruit will come? Are we hopefully praying that we will be like Christ and lovingly serving others so they will see Him in us? I hope that we are seeking to be people of love because, as Paul writes, a lot of stuff is going to fade away. On that day love will remain.
Hymn for Today: ""The Love of God" by Frederick M. Lehman
1. The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
Refrain:
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
2. When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Refrain:
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
3. Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
Refrain:
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
"“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[Romans 3:18 Psalm 36:2(1)" [Romans 3:18].]
Please pray:
For the development of Christian leaders in Malawi.
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