“Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.” – 1 Corinthians 13:8 

Scripture reading: Romans 5:1-8; 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Paul says climactically, “love never ends.” More literally, love never falls down or falls apart. It doesn’t fall to pieces in hardship. It has no expiration date.

Remember, Paul is in the midst of a discussion on spiritual gifts. The Corinthians were enamoured with the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge. But as Sinclair Ferguson puts it, “Gifts are secondary; love is primary. Gifts are tools. What matters is how a person employs them.”

And Paul says that these gifts will pass away. Anthony Thiselton writes, “how can preachers and prophets have anything to say when the last judgment not only reveals, but evaluates and pronounces judgment upon, everything. The sermons of prophets and the ‘knowledge’ of theologians are rendered redundant, while the character and fruit of love does not fall apart. To prophecy would be like switching on a [flashlight] in the full light of the noonday sun.”

When Christ returns and ushers in the glories of the age to come, these gifts will no longer be needed. Some were even part of the foundation laying era of the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20). But love never ends. Indeed, Christ’s love for us never fell apart in hardship. Christ loved us all the way to the cross and will love us for all of eternity. And His “love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5). Therefore, let us walk by the Spirit in Christ-like, never-ending love!

Suggestions for prayer

Give thanks to God for the never-ending, never-failing, love of Christ. Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you with a Christ-like love that never ends.

Rev. Brian Cochran is ordained in the United Reformed Churches in North America and has served as the pastor of Redeemer Reformation Church in Regina, SK, for 14 years. This month he starts a new call to Grace URC in Torrance, CA. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.