FAITH HOPE AND LOVE

THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE (1 Corinthians 13, 1 John 4:7-21) For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:12-13) 1 Corinthains 13, goes through many aspects, that if you do not have love conected to them, they are nothing. this chapter highlights the importance of love above all other spiritual gifts and virtues. That if we do not have love, then we have nothing at all, the rest are all worthless. (v13) says "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (NKJV). Faith, Hope, and Love,very important ingredance in a Christians life. Infact if you do not have these three, I would go as far as saying then very likely you are not a Christian. For they are the essential, virtues of the Christian life. All of the things mentioned here in CH.13 are important but it says gifts such as prophecy will fail and tongues will cease, but Faith, Hope and Love will remain. But the greatest of all is love, it should be the biggest and the best gift. First it is eternal, everlasting, ungoing forever and ever.It is the only one of all of these that moves along with us into heaven, because in heaven my faith will become sight, oh I look forward to that day when I will see Jesus face to face, no longer needing Hope because all will be reality, I will not need faith and love any more. Love, however, endures forever beause God is love. (1 John 4:8) Friends, love is the highest expression of God's character that was poured intoo us as Jesus gave His life for us on the cross. Paul says that without love, every other gift is worthless. Oh, faith and hope often benefit me, the induvidual but when I love that love focuses on others, reflecting Christs sacrificial nature. It is pure love,"agape" perfect God love. Agape, is unconditional love, I can only truely love all people, including my enemies with AGAPE L.O.V.E. I am so glad, for a wedding I will be performing in April, the young couple has chosen 1 Corinthians 13 as their chapter to be read at their wedding cerimony. It tells me this young couple have high standerds and believe, that a cord of three strands are not easly broken. Jesus calls the Church His Bride, and we are to love our Husband and or wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her. (Ephesians 5:25) If we love in our marriages and in any other relationship God gives us, with Agape love, by both parties, nothing can break up that relationship. LOVE NEVER FAILS, so if a relationship has broken up, somewhere along the way, love failed by both or in the least one of the parties involved. Father God, help us always to be thankful for those you have given us to minister to, it is like Paul said in 1 Thessilonians 1:1-6, For"We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith,your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God,that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe sufferingp with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. Thank You Jesus AMEN