Love Never Fails
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 (NIV)
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. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Devotion:
Today, we will look at a comparison between love and everything else. Paul is stating his purpose for this section of scripture in verse eight. Love never fails. Everything else will fail us but love never will. Elsewhere in scripture we read that God is love (1 John 4:8, 16), so it makes sense that since we know that God never fails then neither will love ever fail us. We are living in a time and place where few things are dependable the exception is God and His love. We can always depend on God.
Paul then goes on to discuss the cessation of spiritual gifts when Jesus returns. Our prophesies, tongues, and knowledge will all cease one day. They will cease because they all point out that Jesus is Lord. When Jesus returns there will be no need for such signs because the thing that they signify is present. When Jesus comes His glory and majesty will eliminate the need for prophesy, tongues, and knowledge gifts. We will know him and rejoice at his coming. And our joy will be complete.
In verse eleven we are compared to children. In our day we are all children, but when Jesus returns, we will leave behind our childish ways and become mature adults in our faith. For the present time even the wisest among us is childlike in faith. Jesus says in the gospels that unless we come to him as little children, we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. (Mark 10:15) So, we come to Jesus humbly as a child in this life but in the world to come we will be mature in our faith.
We see in verse twelve that even our self-knowledge is imperfect in this present life. In ancient times the mirrors that Paul refers to here were pieces of polished metal that did not give a very clear reflection compared to the mirrors which we have today. However, when Christ returns, we shall see ourselves as God sees us with greater clarity and fidelity. For now, we know only impart, but when Jesus comes, we will know fully. Even the most knowledgeable among us admit that they know very little. One day, however, we will know fully. Let us come before our God seeking His return.
Prayer:
Lord God Almighty, you are mighty to save. May we glorify your name in all we do today. We look forward to your return so that we may be made into the people you desire us to be. We confess that we have often failed to love you and our neighbors. Help us to see that the temporary nature of this world will one day be made perfect when you return. Thank you for loving us enough to send Jesus to be the way of our salvation. Grant that we may be made complete in your love. Amen.
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