I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell. I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains—but if I have no love, I am nothing. I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burned—but if I have no love, this does me no good.
Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.
Love is eternal. There are inspired messages, but they are temporary; there are gifts of speaking in strange tongues, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass. For our gifts of knowledge and of inspired messages are only partial; but when what is perfect comes, then what is partial will disappear.
When I was a child, my speech, feelings, and thinking were all those of a child; now that I am an adult, I have no more use for childish ways. What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face-to-face. What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete—as complete as God’s knowledge of me.
Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13 (Good News Translation)
REFLECTION
We can say I love you or I love this and that etc. But what is love really? What does true love actually look like? Well, 1 Corinthians 13 clarifies what true love is and isn’t. For those of you who want to learn to truly love as it’s spelled out in God’s love letter to us, let’s pray together and ask our loving Creator to enlighten us and lead us into the truth of His perfect love for us and help us to become excellent in the ways of true love. Let’s memorise and meditate on 1 Corinthians 13 until it’s written on our hearts, trusting that the Holy Spirit will work wonders with the living and active Word of God, as we step out and aim to live it out in faith, hope and His unfailing love.
▫️Note: I also encourage you to prayerfully ponder different Bible translations of 1 Corinthians 13 (Amplified Bible, ESV etc).
PRAYER POEM: Loved + Known
Loving Lord Jesus, Your selfless sacrifice took away my sin so I may enter in and learn the ways of love from above.
May I never You grieve. Please help me more deeply Your love receive, and with joy and peace deeply believe.
By You I am eternally loved and known. May Your love in me be clearly shown.
🎙️Special feature: I’ve recorded 1 Corinthians 13 (GNT) to aid the memorisation and meditation process. You can access it here:
