Controlled by Love

 

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there

are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

 

Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”

 

Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

 

 

 

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

 

Love is more important than any of these gifts that [the Corinthians] cherish. Paul is telling the Corinthians that love will outlast all of these gifts. This is true because God Himself is love, and His attribute of love will shine throughout all eternity. Because God is love, we too are to be defined by love, controlled by love, if you will. Love is to be our priority. Love is superior to all these gifts. Love lasts for eternity.

 

 

 

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

Love is eternal because it is anchored in God’s very Being. It’s who He is!

 

. . . So Paul is saying to the Corinthians, “You want to know what’s important? You want to know what really matters?” Love is what matters: that we are kind and not jealous of one another, that we are patient and don’t brag. We’re not arrogant. We don’t act unbecomingly or seek our own things, our own standing. We’re not provoked by one another. We’re not acting vindictively because someone has wronged us. We’re rejoicing in the truth, not in unrighteousness. We trust God with our lives, and we bear all things, believe all things, endure all things because we know He’s watching. We know He’s sovereign. We know He loves us.

 

Love is at the very heart of the nature of God, and He’s calling us to love Him, and He’s calling us to love our neighbors as Christ loved His God and as Christ loved His neighbor.

 

Father: John tells us that anyone who does not practice righteousness or love his brother is not of You. You demonstrated Your love for us by sending Your Son as a payment for our sin.

 

Now You call us to love one another as You have loved us. We’re to love sacrificially from the heart. Love is from You. When we love, we demonstrate that we are born of You. It is Your Spirit that gives us spiritual life and a love for others. Our love is a testament to His work in our lives.

 

May we learn and be taught by Your word and by the example of our Savior to love others well. Each one of us knows what it is like to have Someone love us: to put up with, even look beyond, our fallen condition and sin. May we strive to be people who minister well to others in their fallen condition. It is love for our brothers and sisters that compels us to pray for them.