Love Lasts

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. (1 Corinthians 13:8-10)

Thoughts:  Love goes on through eternity.  Love also does not fail us- whereas other spiritual gifts will stop or disappoint.  Love doesn't fail in that it is for everyone and not just for some.
Tongues- speaking in foreign languages will awe people.  But that awe fades. In heaven everyone will understand everything- and there will be no need for tongues.
Prophecy/Knowledge- especially knowledge of God's will and the future will one day be given to all.  So being able to discern God's will won't be a big deal.  Being able to tell the future will not matter either.  All such gifts are only partial and not perfectly clear here on this side anyway (vs. 9) 
When completeness comes- that is- when we get to heaven- the partial stuff that seemed amazing at the time- fades in importance. Love, however, will always go on.
So Paul is saying, "Invest yourself in the greater gifts...Give yourself to what will last forever."   To a church that was dividing out of pride and immorality the call was to love.  

Prayer: Lord, may your love indeed triumph and make us new.  Give us the vision to invest ourselves in love.  

4-21-13 "Never Fail to Love because Love Never Fails"

⁸ Love never fails... ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Thoughts: My good friend and fellow-elder, Oscar Lovelace, texted me today after the sermon and said that "This is what this past week and your sermon led me to conclude: Never fail to love, because love never fails."  That is a great way to look at life.
    Fear and worry and evil will stop- but love never fails.  Terrorism and crucifixions will cease- but love never fails.  It is the lesson of the rainbow after the storm and the resurrection after the crucifixion.  It is the lesson of heaven after the heartache of pain and suffering.  Let us not become paralyzed with fear or the possibilities of things going wrong.  Rather, let us live in the grace and strength God gives us.  

Prayer: Today, O Lord, remove fear far from me and grant me your peace. More than that grant me your love- that I might bless this old world the way you bless me.