[Anglican Devotional 3 February 2022] Topic: Love
TOPIC: Love
READ: 1 Corinthians 13 (NKJV)
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor,] and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Love suffers long [and] is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. But whether [there are] prophecies, they will fail; whether [there are] tongues, they will cease; whether [there is] knowledge, it will vanish away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
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.
THE MESSAGE:
Love is an intense feeling of deep affection for a person or thing (Merriam-Webster). Paul used the ancient Greek word ‘Agape’ in this passage. The ancient Greek had four different words we could translate as love. They are:
(i) Eros: This describes erotic, sexual or romantic love.
(ii) Storge: This refers to family love, the kind of love between a parent and child or between family members in general.
(ii) Philia: This refers to brotherly friendship and affection. It can be described as the highest love of which man, without God’s help, is capable of.
(iv) Agape: This is the love that loves without changing. It is a self-giving love that gives without demanding or expecting repayment. It can be given to the unlovable or unappealing. It does not demand or expect repayment for the love given.
Agape love can be defined as sacrificial, selfess giving, absorbing kind of love. It has much to do with self-denial for the sake of another.
True love is always demonstrated by action. Love is strong, believing, hopeful and enduring. Spurgeon calls these four virtues, “Love’s four sweet companions.” We should replace the word love with the name Jesus and the description in our text would make perfect sense. Jesus is long suffering, kind and gentle. He is not envious, proud, rude, arrogant, does not have cliques, and is not happy with evil. Be like Jesus.
PRAYER: Love is kind, Love is meek and thinks no wrong. God is love. Therefore Lord, help us to love.
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