“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV).
These famous words, often heard in wedding ceremonies, can easily get lost in the familiarity of them. But their significance, penned by the Apostle Paul prompted by the Holy Spirit, could radically change the way we do things.
“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a resounding gong or a clanging symbol.” (v. 1)
That means if I go and feed the homeless, they might get fed, but if I don’t sincerely love them and desire to build a relationship there, then it really means nothing.
If I serve my family by making a delicious organic dinner every night, but I grumble about having to go grocery shopping or slaving over that hot stove, then that food might as well be poison in their bellies. Yes, it will sustain their bodies, but what will it have done for their souls?
These 3 remain: faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.
Faith: taking God at His word. Not just believing IN God, but believing God. Believing what He says about me, about the worth of others, about salvation and redemption and grace.
Hope: to know that the future is in His hands, that there is a better place prepared for us, that God wins in the end.
And Love: powerful, redemptive, coverer or our sin. If we don’t have it, all else fails.
It wasn’t just a song of the 60’s; it was a truism: What the world needs now is love, sweet love. No, not just for some, but for everyone.
This post is a part of the Five Minute Friday link up, with the prompt of “Thirteen.” Join the fun!
Compelled 