Devotional: Unfailing Love

Date: February 20, 2008

Devotional: Unfailing Love

Scripture Verse: I Corinthians 13:8

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies,

they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease;

whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

I CORINTHIANS 13:8

We can’t call our love for others “unfailing”. When people irritate us, it’s so easy for us to make unloving choices. Though we want to draw others to God by our faithfulness, our own sin gets in the way, and we find ourselves being a traitor to His kingdom.

In I Corinthians 13, the apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, provides us with the most beautiful description of love. Paul describes a love that is based on the deliberate choice of the one who loves rather than the worthiness of the one who is loved. This kind of love goes against human inclination. It is a giving, selfless, expect-nothing-in-return kind of love. This description of love by Paul is full of power.

Love suffers for a long time. Today’s society encourages us to get rid of people in our lives who are difficult to get along with, whether they are friends, family, or acquaintances. Yet this attitude is completely opposite to the love described by Paul. True love puts up with people who would be easier to give up on.

Love is not provoked. In essence, this means love is not easily angered or over-sensitive. When we truly love others, we are careful not to be touchy concerning other people’s words or actions towards us.

Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. The godly love described by Paul has nothing to do with evil, but has everything to do with what is right and true. It believes all things and hopes all things. This does not mean that love is naïve. When we love, we may recognize problems and failures in people, but we do not lose faith in the possibilities of what people might become. Love never gives up, knowing that God can change lives for the better.

Love endures all things. Love accepts any hardship or rejection, and continues full force to build up and encourage. Though our caring ability fails often, we know from experience and God’s Word that His never does. We should be so glad of this promise, because we know how much we need His love every moment of our lives. If God failed to shower us with His love, our days would be a big mess.

Ask God to fill you with His unfailing love for both those you relate to easily and those who are a challenge just to be with. Ask the Lord to love them through you with His never ending compassion.