Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13
Boxing Day can feel a bit flat can’t it?
The excitement and anticipation for Christmas Day had been building for what seemed like ages, but it’s over in a flash. Christmas comes, and then it’s a year until the next one again.
Love can feel a bit like that too. There’s times where we might feel real deep love, and then the next day we feel a bit flat.
How many relationships have come to an end this year? How many divorces? How many broken families? In this broken world, love ends. Our love can come and go.
God’s love never ends.
God is faithful in His love. God’s love doesn’t come and go.
Jesus was born to show God’s eternal love. Generation after generation can come and hear of the good news of God’s love in Jesus.
1 Corinthians 13 is a beautiful and famous description of love. It’s a beautiful description of God and His love. We might long for love like we read there, but any earthly love falls way short.
‘…love endures all things…’
‘Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.’
God’s love for His people endures all things. God’s love will remain.
What a huge comfort that is for God’s people. If we know Jesus, we know that God will faithfully love us eternally. We can trust Him to always patiently love us. People that we love will fail us, but Jesus never will.
For those whose trust is in Jesus, nothing can ever separate us from the love of God. (Romans 8:31-39)
When we know this deep love, we will also grow in sharing it with others. Jesus said that His people would be known by their love for one another. (John 13:34-35)
The church is called to be a people who are satisfied in God’s eternal, unchanging and unfailing love, and who share that love for their neighbour.
That’s only possible because of Jesus, the greatest gift and display of truly everlasting love.
O Come Let Us Adore Him!
A thought to remember: God’s love will remain
A question to ask: What difference does God’s eternal love make to your life?
A bit more to read: 1 Corinthians 13
A song to sing: O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go