Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:8, 13
There are three things that will endure-faith, hope, and love-and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
IN THE BLANK next to each statement, indicate how long you think that thing will last. You can use minutes, hours, days, months, or years.
____ A million dollars in your pocket.
____ The most recent pair to become a “couple” in your school.
____ Your spiritual high after a youth retreat.
____ Your best friendship.
____ A box of ice-cream sandwiches in your freezer.
____ Your brother or sister’s latest promise to be nice to you.
____ The impact of loving someone unconditionally.
Some things last a long time. Others don’t seem to last at all. That box of ice cream sandwiches in your freezer could vanish in an instant if you and your friends aim to inhale ice cream. On the other hand, a friendship could last for decades. It’s tough to know what last and what will won’t. Sometimes the thing you expect to be permanent is the first thing to fall apart when times get tough.
One thing that always keeps going and going is God’s love-and the love you show others when you love like Christ loves you. That makes the last item on the list the most enduring.
There’s never been-nor will there ever be-a greater demonstration of love than what Christ did on the cross. Romans 5:8 say, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” The world will feel the impact of what Jesus did on the cross for eternity.
Fortunately for the world, God’s expression of love didn’t end on the cross. When Jesus rose from the dead, he charged us all to spread his love throughout the world (see Matthew 28:18-20). When you love someone as Christ loves, the impact of your action can last as long as God’s love. It’s like knocking down dominoes. Your love changing one person can ripple through countless relationships.
So are you focusing your life on the only thing that will last-loving God and loving others as Jesus loves you? If anything else drives you, your efforts might disappear faster than that box of ice-cream sandwiches in the freezer.
REFLECT: What commitments are you making to things that will last?
PRAY: Talk to God today about where love fits in your priorities.
