Thought for Monday, 13 February 2023

 1^st Corinthians 13:13

There are three things that will endure – faith, hope and love – and the greatest

of these is love.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

With valentines day happening tomorrow, I suppose it’s as good a time as any to think about love.  I saw a valentines message on social media today which made me smile as being appropriate for the ‘more mature’ age group and it was as follows: ‘I love you and you can every piece of my heart – except the pace-maker’.

 

There are so many songs through the years with the words and music inspired by love; ‘love is a wonderful thing, it makes you smile in the pouring rain’, ‘love, love changes everything’, ‘love is a many splendoured thing’. ‘my love is like the melody that’s sweetly played in tune’ and so many more.  It must be something very meaningful and powerful that can provide such inspiration.

 

When a couple get married in church and publicly and formally declare their love for each other, 1^st Corinthians 13 is invariably the chapter of the bible that features in the marriage service because of the wonderful description of what love actually means.  When you read the messages in the many cards for sale on the run-up to valentines day, they don’t come close to what is written in this part of scripture.

 

1^st Corinthians 13 tells us that if we are the cleverest person in the whole world but incapable of showing love towards others, all the things we are clever at would be worth nothing.  It also tells us that if we have great faith and generosity but do not possess love, it makes the other qualities meaningless.

 

We are told that love means being patient and kind.  It requires us not to be jealous, boastful or rude and not continually cast up past issues.  Being loving means not being irritable and not accepting injustice.  It means not giving up on someone, being optimistic and in a relationship for the long haul rather than jumping ship whenever there is a blip.

 

Love did indeed come down at Christmas when God so loved the world that he gave his only son that all who believe in him should not perish but have eternal life.

 

Prayer – Heavenly Father, we thank You that you give each of us one or more gifts of the Spirit, to be used in love and to Your glory. Help us to use the gifts that you have bestowed on us in a way that does not dishonour or displease You - but may our spiritual gifts be rooted and grounded in Christ's love, in whose name we pray, AMEN.