Thursday, February 28, 2019
1 Corinthians 13:8 . . . Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away . . .
DIVINE LOVE IS EVERLASTING
"Love never fails . . ." In our discussion of divine love, we have passed along a caution or two. Here's another: while God is indeed love (1 John 4:8), this does not mean love is God.
There are religions out there which make God out to be some inanimate, impersonal force. For example, a tract on Christian Science says: "Life, Truth, and Love constitute the triune Person called God . . ." In a word, that confuses the nature of our Triune God with His divine traits or attributes!
And another caution. When the Bible says, "we love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19), never forget it's not the other way around. God's love is not earned or merited by our love, but His undeserved love for us inspires our desire to love Him and our neighbor.
" . . . But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away."
Paul wants to remind the wisdom-loving Greek Christians to keep all in perspective. The Day is coming, he says, when gifts like knowledge, prophecy, and tongues-speaking will be no more; by contrast, divine love will never fail, cease, or pass away.
We too live in a world which exalts wisdom and knowledge. Our Day of Information with all its smartphone and computer technology, all sorts of knowledge, good and bad, is at the fingertips of almost everyone. Let's keep it all in perspective. All the knowledge in the world will finally be for naught, will pass away. The only thing which will endure is the love of God in Christ Jesus, in Whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3).
Wisdom's highest, noblest treasure, Jesus, is revealed in You.
Le me find in You my pleasure, And my wayward will subdue,
Humility there and simplicity reigning,
In paths of true wisdom my steps ever training.
If I learn from Jesus this knowledge divine,
The blessing of heavenly wisdom is mine.
(Lutheran Service Book, 536:3)
