Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

“Love never fails… and now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:8, 13)

In a world where everything inevitably fails, what do you think it would be worth to have a tool that never failed — ever? Or think of what it would mean to drive a vehicle with an engine that always cranked over and powered at 100%, even after decades upon decades of use without any care or repair.

What about shoes that never wore out; a food supply that never dwindled; a knife that never rusted; an appliance that never shorted out; or a battery that never needed charging? Now wonder the miracle of the 5 loaves and 2 fish by the hands of Jesus captures our imagine so much! He took something clearly finite and expendable, and transformed it into some infinite and indispensable. Few stories make it into all of the four Gospel accounts, but none of the writers passed this one up!

I don’t think it would be too far-fetched to say that sinful men would kill over to possess power like this. Companies spend billions of dollars every year attempting to make tools more proficient and efficient, but no one can make something that never fails.

Yet, that is exactly what we have in Christ. We have something that truly never fails — that is bottomless in its supply. Its name is Love.

Love always works. Love always succeeds. Love always triumphs.

Do you realize what this means? You can apply the love of Christ to any person or to any situation and it will never fail. Never. Even our faith and hope can fail at times, but love is not like its sisters. It cannot fail. In fact, it is altogether different because its wellsprings are found in the very essence of God.

“…for God is love.” (1 John 4:8)

Even when everything is against love, it still never fails. Love will always penetrate the darkness with a brightness like the sun. It will always melt the hardest heart with the intensity of its fire. It transforms bitterness into tenderness; abhorrence into benevolence; hateful passion into compassion; resentment into endearment; and dislike into delight.

It is love that sent our Lord among us and to take on flesh. For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son!

It is love that produces the very fruit of the Spirit we are to live by— for as the Spirit is God, the Spirit must be love!

“The fruit of the Spirit is love…” (Galatians 5:22)

But it certainly doesn’t end there. We are not just to live by love, but we are to let it be the one and only law of our life. It is the commanding force of every Christian life.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)

“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.*” (Romans 13:8)*

“**For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love* your neighbor as yourself.”” (Galatians 5:14)*

“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well…” (James 2:8)

Love is so powerful, that it is even the indicator of true discipleship. Like a radar, love will always reveal its own.

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

“If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20)

Whatever problem or conflict you are facing today, have you tried applying the healing balm of Christ’s love? Have you allowed the fruit of love to grow out of your life like a tree planted by the rivers of water? (See Psalm 1)

Use love. Be loving. In all your getting, get love! In all your thoughts and ways, let love have its perfect work. By love you will prosper in every way.

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11)