By Lisa Wilmore
Blessings to you my dear friends!
Blessed be the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. As we journey throughout our week, let us thank God for His grace and mercy-new mercies that He extends every morning. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lam. 3:22-23 ESV).
Our aforementioned question, “Which of these is the greatest, faith, hope, love” is another Bible trivia question. As noted in last weeks message, Bible trivia is on of my favorite leisure pursuits. It helps me to relax while keeping my mind occupied.
This week’s question is biblically noted in Paul’s letter, 1 Corinthian 13. As a young child about the age of eight years old, our pastor, the late Reverend Dr. Herman E. Harris read this Scripture as a devotional message every second Sunday-our pastoral Sunday. Because of hearing this Text read repeatedly, it was committed to memory. I distinctly remember him reading, “Now abideth faith, hope, charity (love), these three; but the greatest of the these is charity.” Then he commenced to say, “You can’t beat God’s giving no matter how you try.” Wow!
Currently, during this time of my life, I have a better understanding of what Pastor Harris read and taught through 1 Corinthian 13. I truly understand that God’s love is deeper and wider than any love the world could ever offer. He loved us so much. He gave His only Son, Jesus, who died and rose the third day so that we may have Eternal Life. We can never beat God’s giving no matter how we try.
Dear hearts, love comes from God. As a matter of fact, the reason love is greater than faith and hope, of course we need these attributes as well, is because God is love. John reminds us in 1 John 4:8, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love (KJV).
The characteristics of love as emphasized in 1 Corinthians as follows: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love 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”-“Faith, hope, love, the greatest is love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8,13 NIV).
Jesus Saves!
