A Pause To Ponder God's Word
"Love Never Fails"

In a world of ninety day warrantees, items being made to wear out and be thrown away, products failing during use, store shelves stocked with items that will be obsolete before we ever purchase them, and a myriad of other non-permanent things that surround us, it is hard to believe that anything would last. We are well aware of the fact that the things of this world are not permanent. With our greatest efforts to maintain and preserve, even those things that have lasted for centuries, will fade away. Wouldn't it be nice if something would last? Wouldn't it be wonderful if something would not fail? There is something.

"Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:8) We almost miss this powerful succinct statement as we read through the eloquent potent "Love Chapter." It leaps off the page and takes us back. We want to believe it, but we are not sure. Love never fail? All of us have done a loving act which did not accomplish its intended outcome. All of us have reached out to someone in love and had it rejected. All of us have loved and not been loved in return. No questioning what this states. But, how can it be?

It is first imperative that we understand love. The original language helps here. The word used here is "agape." The distinctively New Testament word was used by the biblical writers to express Divine love. It is love as seen incarnate in Jesus. It is God's love. It is the selfless, self-giving, self-sacrificing, lay-down-your-life love. The King James version used the word "Charity" in this chapter in an effort to be sure it was kept distinct. This is the love that does not fail.

Second, it is imperative that we understand the word "fail." Our first inclination is to think that this means love is always successful. It accomplishes its intended effect. What is spoken of here is permanence. The passage goes on to tell us that spiritual gifts will cease, and all that is imperfect will disappear. Only love does not fail. It alone remains. Its actions are permanent. Though it's intended immediate outcome may not happen, the loving act cannot be removed, destroyed, or denied. Love never fails.

Third, it is imperative that we keep "never" in proper perspective. Love never fails because love is always active. It never ceases to be love and is eternal in that it is grounded in God Himself. "God is Love." (1 John 4:8) We have this confidence, that every action done in agape always acts according to it's character and therefore reveals God's presence. Love always accomplishes.

Therefore, we are liberated in Christ to genuinely love. We can take the risk and love with the quiet confidence that love never fails. The results of love's actions are dependant upon God and the individual being loved. Our responsibility is to love! Beloved, let us love one another.

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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