Love Never Fails

Devotion for Tuesday June 12, 2018

Sing SS&S 648; Abu 40

Topic: Love Never Fails

Text: 1 Corinthians 13:8 – 10

Paul expresses the value of love which he said can never be obsolete; it will always have its place. All the spiritual gifts will eventually disappear, but love will last forever. On this earth, outside of heaven, everything is imperfect. No matter how much people may know, they know only a little. No matter how much prophecy is given, it still reveals little. Not until the arrival of God’s Kingdom (the end), will everything be made perfect and complete. At that time, all the special gifts of the Spirit will disappear. Because gifts are given for the building up of the body of Christ, they will no longer be needed. The body will be complete, and God’s Kingdom would have arrived. Yet love will continue (1 Corinthians 13:8), because love is the very essence of God. “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). God’s love caused Him to reach out to undeserving humanity and send a Saviour. His love saved us and will bring us into His Kingdom to be with Him forever. The Kingdom rests on God’s love. On the other hand, works of love never die too. They outlive us. Love is the gift and virtue that can accompany us to heaven because that is the essence of life of Christianity. The first fruit of the Spirit mentioned by Paul in Galatians 5:22 is love. It shows how important love is in our lives as Christians. Do you actually love God and man? Note that without genuine love for God and man, you are deficient in your character as a Christian. 

Action: As you go out today, use every opportunity you have to show love to someone.

Memory verse: 1 Corinthians 13:10

Prayer: Lord God, help me to love you and my neighbours as I ought to in Jesus name.

FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS: Devotion for Thursday May 5, 2016

FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS: Devotion for Thursday May 5, 2016

Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1 – 11     Memory verse: v 7  

On Monday, we learnt that all we have are gifts from God and should be used for the benefit of others and to the glory of God. We shouldn’t pride ourselves on what was given to us. Among those gifts are spiritual talents (12:1) as Paul mentioned here. Paul states that the Spirit manifesting in us diverse gifts is meant to benefit all (12:7). All Christian gifts and graces come from the Holy Spirit. He bestows different measures of grace and means of influence upon different individuals, but always for the wisest reasons: for God to be glorified at the manifestation of the gifts. Paul admonished us to use them well (Rom. 12:6 – 8). Anything that is short of this is not of God.  

What are the spiritual and physical gifts God has bestowed on you? How do you use them? A young priest told me how a lady came to their church for prayers. He called on one of the senior priests to join him in praying for the young lady. The senior priest asked if the lady is a member of the Church which he answered on the negative but wishes to start attending their church. The senior priest said he will not join because the lady is a prayer collector and not a member of their church. The young priest prayed for her and she left. She is presently a member of that church. If the young priest had told the lady what transpired, will that lady ever want to hear the priest or receive his prayers in that church? We should not discriminate with our spiritual gifts. Freely we received; freely we should give in whatever we have, be it spiritual or physical.

Food for Thought: How many people are benefiting from the gifts of God upon you?

Prayer: May I use my gifts, O Lord, for the benefit of all without discrimination in Jesus name.            

LOVE NEVER FAILS: Devotion for Tuesday February 16, 2016

LOVE NEVER FAILS   Tuesday February 16, 2016

Text: 1 Corinthians 13:8 – 10     Memory verse: v 10

Paul expresses the value of love which he said can never be obsolete; it will always have its place. All the spiritual gifts will eventually disappear, but love will last forever. On this earth, everything is imperfect. No matter how much people may know, they know only a little. No matter how much prophecy is given; it still reveals little. Everything will be made perfect and complete at the arrival of God’s Kingdom (the end). 

At that time, all the special gifts of the Spirit will disappear. Because gifts are given for the building up of the body of Christ, they will no longer be needed. Then the body will be complete. Yet love will continue (1 Corinthians 13:8), because love is the very essence of God Himself. “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). God’s love caused Him to reach out to undeserving humanity and send a Saviour. His love saved people and will bring them into his Kingdom to be with Him forever.

On the other hand, works of love never die too. They outlive us. Love is the gift and virtue that can accompany us to heaven because that is the essence of life of Christianity. The first fruit of the Spirit mentioned by Paul in Galatians 5:22 is love. It shows how important love is in our lives as Christians. Do you actually love God and man? Note that without genuine love for God and man, you are deficient in your character as a Christian.

Action: As you go out today, use every opportunity you have to show love to someone.

Prayer: Lord God, help me to love you and my neighbours as I ought to in Jesus name.