Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:7
Do you have a friend or family member who just never gives up on you? For me, one of those people is my sister. Without a doubt, I know that she will be there for me, regardless of whatever I do or say. She is not only my sister; she is a faithful friend who never gives up. This type of faithfulness is the kind of love Christ calls us to show others. Scripture teaches that this never-giving-up faithfulness is a characteristic of love. Christ-like love never gives up on people. Christ-like love is faithful.
We looked earlier this week at 1 Corinthians 13, which is a chapter where Paul defines love. He ends his definition with verse 7, saying, "love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." In this chapter, Paul describes faithful love. This kind of love never gives up, Paul says. How do we know it never gives up? It always has faith and hope. This means that love believes that no person has messed up so badly or ruined things so completely that they are no longer worthy of pursuing or showing love to. Even more, Paul teaches us that never-giving-up love "endures through every circumstance." There is no circumstance that love does not endure. As we look at verse 7, notice the resolve of these words: never, never, always, and every. There is no room for exceptions. In every circumstance, love never gives up or loses faith. In every circumstance, love hopes and endures. Paul reflects on God's faithful in Ephesians 3 as well, marveling at just how much He loves and never gives up on us. This, my friends, is the way that God loves and the way He calls us to love.
Maybe today you are thinking, "This kind of never-giving-up love sounds great, but you do not know my situation; it is too hard." I understand. I also know that Scripture clearly teaches that love never gives up, and no one is too far gone to be loved by God, so that means no one is too far gone to be loved by us as well. May we be characterized as people who never gave up on people.
Is there a person in your life who you have felt like giving up on lately? Maybe that person has let you down for what feels like the 100th time. Perhaps you have shared about your faith with that person once again, and they have, once again, responded in hostility. Whatever the case, resolve once again not to give up. Reach out to that person today in love as a sign that you will not give up on them.
Please note, faithfully loving someone does not mean tolerating abusive behavior. You can show love to someone yet still need to separate yourself from them if necessary. If you find yourself in such a situation, please seek immediate help.
Read Ephesians 3:14-21(NLT)
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
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