But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but
the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 New American
Standard Bible 1995
After Paul’s discourse about
love in the first seven verses of this chapter, He talks about how it is
greater than gifts like prophecy, tongues and knowledge because they will have
their end. They are only for this world. The greatest of all virtues are faith,
hope and love, with love being the greatest of all. Love is the only virtue
that will continue in heaven for there our faith and hope will have their
fulfillment and will be no longer needed. We will not need to have faith
because we will see, and hope will no longer be necessary for we will have
attained what we hoped for, but love will be perfected. Unlike the others which
will reach completion, love will grow even more for God is love. God gives us
faith and hope for this life to get us to the next, but love is an extension of
Himself. That is why it is the greatest. All other virtues are of course good
and necessary, but love is different. In having love we have God. It is in
giving and acting on love that we extend God’s hand to others, more than any
other virtue. Love is the basis of the Law, for it can be summed up in loving
God and others. If we do that, we will never break the Law. Then others will
know that we are of God for God is love. They will most truly see God in us
when we love for it is a divine attribute. It is through love that we can see
the image of God in mankind. We need faith and hope to get through this life to
the next, and gifts are only for this life, but love is eternal.
How can you show God to
others today? How can you recognize God’s hand in others? Ask God to help you
love like He does. Ask Him to help you realize His love for you and others. Ask
Him to help you become more aware of His presence.
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Translations of Greek and Hebrew words taken from
blueletterbible.org
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