If I have faith, so as to remove mountains,... - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

If I have faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing…Love never fails.
(1 Corinthians 13:2, 8)
About 60 years ago a new medical graduate, a Muslim, walked into the room of a Christian colleague and saw a small open book on his bed. He asked if he could read it, and after reading the passage twice, he said to his Christian friend, “Frankly, I never knew that your Bible has such good things. Can I read it again now? Can I also come again to read in it?” The chapter he read was 1 Corinthians 13. Many listeners to Arabic Christian radio have written asking for copies of what they call “the poem about love.”

Needless to say, love is the very heart of the Christian faith. In His last discourse with His disciples, the Lord emphasized to them the importance of love. First Corinthians 13 may be divided into three parts:
(1) Verses 1-3: the superiority of love above miraculous gifts. It is superior to mere knowledge, including scriptural knowledge, for “knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.”
(2) Verses 4-7: the qualities love produces in the believer, and which are manifested in his relationship with others. This includes one’s relationship with other believers, whether those with whom he has close contact or those who are believers, but who differ in certain doctrinal truths. Love is to continue in spite of differences. It also includes the family circle where daily situations may create temporary tensions. Love should prevail in the family, for its joy and security. Love should include sinners, and it is to be the motive behind evangelism. To win souls, we must love them.
(3) Verses 8-13: the permanence of love. In heaven there will be no need for the gifts of miracles. Faith will have served its purpose, for what we believed and hoped for we will have and we shall see with our eyes. But love will abide. How could it be otherwise when, as we know, GOD IS LOVE!

A.M Behnam