Join us as we focus each day for nine weeks on a different part of 1 Corinthians 13.
Friday: Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Saturday: It always protects, always trusts
Sunday: Always hopes, always perseveres.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:7
Read: 1 Corinthians 13:7
Listen: 1 Corinthians 13
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Grabbing his rhetorical toolkit, Paul now uses hyperbole (exaggeration) to drive home his point about the superiority of love. Obviously, love doesn’t “always” demand we do the things listed in this verse. But love does call us, in the context of living as God wants us to live, to be guided by these principles.
Love always “protects,” it shields others from ridicule and harm. While it is anxious to protect the sinner, it never protects the sin. It always “trusts,” it is not suspicious or cynical. It wants the best outcome for everyone involved. It always “hopes,” meaning that human failure is never final. It also always “perseveres” and holds fast to those it loves. Love will never stop loving.
Sometimes the circumstances of life feel overwhelming, even to the point where we feel like giving in. We no longer want to protect, trust, hope or persevere. We’ve had enough. But God calls us to a higher standard, a standard we can only reach because he has promised to give us his help.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
It’s possible you’ve given up. Decisions and choices by someone you love have caused you to stop protecting, trusting, hoping or persevering. It’s easy to do. But our Heavenly Father is calling you to stay in the game, to keep loving even when this might be the last thing you want to do. With open hands, pray a prayer similar to this, “Father, you know how hard this has been. I’ve done my best, and nothing has worked. While I want to quit, I know you are calling me to continue loving. I can only do it with your help. I am trusting in you.” Also, keep checking your bookmark and card. Don’t begin to slip even through your weekend!
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
