February 13, 2022 - We continue our series of devotions on love, a series that will conclude on Monday, Valentine’s Day.
The books that have been written about love - the plays, the songs, the poems - would fill a million libraries. But perhaps the most famous words on this subject are found in a letter, a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to a church in Corinth, Greece, two thousand years ago. In the Bible it’s found in the 13th chapter of I Corinthians.
In Chapter 12 Paul writes about all the many gifts and talents and abilities that God blesses us with, gifts that He wants us to use to accomplish His will and His plan. He mentions preaching and teaching, healing and helping. But at the end of the chapter, after acknowledging the good in all these gifts, he says this -
But now I will show you the most excellent way . . .
And thus begins chapter 13, The Love Chapter. The word love is found nine times in the 13 verses, and each time it’s the Greek word “agape”. This is a term for an unselfish, giving, sacrificial kind of love. This is the love of God. And Paul encourages us to make this the kind of love that characterizes our lives, a love that’s patient and kind, selfless and faithful. Paul teaches us that we can have everything else - knowledge, wisdom, generosity, faith - but if we don’t have love, then we don’t have anything.
Another Mighty Man of God, Peter, said it this way -
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Meet you back here on Monday,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
