September 19, 2020 (Saturday)
The Apostle Paul said in Galatians 6 that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. It seems to me that the first three go together. We discussed joy, then peace and today I keep my promise by writing about love.
There is no greater document about love than 1 Corinthians 13. So here it is in the Amplified Version of the Bible:
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not [a] love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing. 3 If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body [b] to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.
4 Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. 5 It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. 7 Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].
8 Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete]. 10 But when that which is complete and perfect comes, that which is incomplete and partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God]. 13 And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.
Footnotes
[a] 1 Corinthians 13:1 I.e. a profound thoughtfulness and unselfish concern for other believers regardless of their circumstances or station in life.
[b] 1 Corinthians 13:3 Early mss read so that I may boast, i.e. as a martyr.
It is important that we know which Greek word for love the apostle used. The word is agape, which describes a love that thinks only of others, never giving a thought to self. I must ask myself, “Do I have that kind of love?” Do you?
Agape love is the kind of love God has for the world (John 3:16), and the kind of love that motivated Jesus to give himself on the cross for us, paying the complete price for our sins, bearing our punishment and taking our place so that our sin becomes his and his righteousness becomes ours (2 Corinthians 5:21). Do I have that kind of love for people? Do you? I cannot speak for you, but I know that I fall short in showing that kind of love for anyone. It has become for me an elusive goal that I would love to reach, but I fear I am not willing to pay the price so that I might have a selfless life of love for others. What about you?
We must remember every day that the last commandment Jesus gave to us was to love each other as He loves us. Let us never forget that without love, we are nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2).