The apostle Paul placed a great deal of emphasis on the love of the brethren for one another. This is a love that should overcome all odds. This love helps us to speak to each other, to tolerate each other, and to appreciate one another.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13, “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” He is telling us here that these are the three things that will always last. It’s only by faith in Jesus that we will come into a relationship with God. Our hope is found in our being convinced that God will keep His promises both now and for our future. Without these two, our Christian lives will fail to make sense.
Then, Paul tells us that love is the most important of the three. The day will come when faith and hope will stop because we are present with the Lord. Love will continue because our focus will be on Him. It’s that day when we will know without doubt what real love is.
Sadly, we don’t get to see real love very often today. Even in our most intimate relationships. Oh, we see smatterings of good will but one misplaced word can take the shine off of all that one has accomplished. Y’all know it’s true. We tend to be selfish in that we want to be treated a certain way without thinking that others want that very same thing. That’s why we see compromise as a good thing only when other people are doing it.
Love is patient in that it teaches us how to bear the imperfections of one another. That kindness is generated by a genuine feeling of love as it motivates change. Real love does not promote jealousy, as that is often a source of quarrel and conflict. It promotes trust. Love does not needlessly offend. It is unselfish and does not work if it brings harm to another. Love does not have a temper. Love allows us to defend one another’s character without focusing on weakness.
Love ain't easy.
Today we should endeavor to show love so that we can feel love.
Don’t wait for someone to love you. You might have to love them first.
Sometimes real love calls for compromise. Even when you don’t want to.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
-Pastor Butch
