Daily Worship

Love Remains

John Povey February 19, 2022 0 5
arms_outstretched_coast_unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Listen to this daily worship

Psalm 103: 14, 1 Corinthians 13: 8 (NIVUK)

(Psalm 103) 14 for he knows how we are formed,
    he remembers that we are dust.

(1 Corinthians 13) 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

First Corinthians chapter 13 is among the most well loved passages in the Bible, often read publicly on special occasions, most notably at marriage services. We might be excused, therefore, for not being aware of the context in which it was first written. Paul placed it immediately after his teaching about the spiritual gifts, and he did so for a specific reason.

Paul was responding to the over-emphasis within the Corinthian Church to certain spiritual gifts. He described how all gifts are worthless if not practised through love. The Greek word used here for love is “agape”, the love which is self-sacrificing and godly.  The spiritual gifts are useful for living this earthly life, during which we may receive glimpses of what is knowable. But when the perfect comes, all will then be known.

It has been said that if we discovered that we had only five minutes left to say all we wanted to say, every telephone line would be clogged up by people calling other people to stammer that they loved them. Love is the greatest of all the virtues. “Agape” love must be our priority.

God in His love understands us more than we understand ourselves. As the Psalm writer reminds us, God knows how we are formed. After all, He Himself formed us and knows all about us. Jesus said our heavenly Father knows even the number of hairs on our head, and values us highly.

During this life we may experience illness, aches and pains, and weakness. But none of that escapes the Lord's attention or His compassion. He knows how we are formed. And the gift which He provides for us to take with us into eternity is the gift of love. Though all else may fail and pass away, love remains.

 

PRAYER:

 

Enable me, O Lord, to love you with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind, with all my strength, and my neighbours as myself, and, in obeying your commandments, may I honour you, the giver of all good gifts. Amen.