GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE

Today is “Father’s Day” in recognition of the father. Father is very different from the mother. He is physically visible, yet his contribution for the family is mostly invisible and unseen – and therefore under-recognised, and many times unrecognised. 

Love, as demonstrated by the Father God, towards the fallen and rebellious human beings, should become the foundation, for every human relationship. It is a love of another kind, different and difficult. Love that has forgiveness, sacrifice and acceptance as its bedrock principles of operation. Glimpses of such love is seen, on a human level, in the father’s love. However, let me clarify, there can be no comparison between God the Father and our human fathers.
– “16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

The love that the Father God demonstrates towards us is not an easy love to walk upon. It crushes the heart of the very person who wishes to walk upon it. However, the result of such a crushing produces, a refreshing and uplifting result, which is worth the crushing. To walk this path of love, it requires, much more than a mere desire to walk upon it. It requires a determined willingness, to disown ourselves, and be willing to sacrifice all what we have. It is not an easy path.
– “4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails…” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

When we realise that this love, that God demonstrates towards us, and is seen in the sacrifice of the LORD Jesus, on the Cross of Calvary, is the only one which will last into eternity, of all the things one sees and possesses, here on earth. Love, that God demonstrates, is the only thing that outlasts everything else, that we see today.
– “13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13

So here is the conclusion dear brothers and sisters, about the love that lasts into eternity  Let us remember this clearly all the days of our lives. Without this love operating in our lives, our lives are worthless. Whoever we may be, and whatever we may have achieved, it amounts to nothing – yes, zero – without this love in our lives.
– “​1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 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. 3 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.” – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
– “1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts…” – 1 Corinthians 14:1a

Do you see such love working in our lives? Have you seen this love in other people? Do you see such love in Christians? Did you see such love in people who are not Christians? I have seen this Christ-like love, in people who are not Christians. The love that God demonstrates begins in an unselfish heart, that cares for others, more than self; is willing to see how things look like, from the other’s perspective, and is willing to sacrifice its personal view, out of love for the other person, and their welfare. Small wonder then, the Bible declares, “GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE!”

Can we dare to love like our Father in heaven? It takes a willing heart to walk this path of love. Worth every penny to walk on it. We may end up with a lot of suffering and scars, yet, it is worth it. It is tough love, and weak hearts can’t handle it. May the LORD help us to love like Him, and be willing to be crushed to produce such love in a world where darkness rules, and self, selfishness and self-interest rules supreme. Even so, the LORD help us.