“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
As Christians, we’re supposed to live with faith, hold onto hope, and show love. But Paul, who wrote part of the Bible, says love is the best of all. Why is that? Let’s dive into why love is so special and how it’s the most important thing we can show as followers of Jesus.
I’ve always wondered what makes love so powerful. How do we show love when it’s hard? How do we make sure the people we care about know we love them? In 1 Corinthians 13, which people call the “love chapter,” Paul says love is patient, kind, strong, and not selfish. It’s not just a warm, fuzzy feeling that comes and goes. The kind of love God talks about (called agape) is choosing to care for someone else, even when it’s tough. It’s how God loves us, because the Bible says, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Faith helps us trust God, and hope keeps us looking forward to His promises, but love is how we act like God in our friendships, families, and even with strangers.
Have you ever thought about how love connects to God’s rules? Jesus said all of God’s laws come down to two things: love God with everything you’ve got and love your neighbor like you love yourself (Matthew 22:37-40). That’s huge! Love covers every rule God gave, like being kind, honest, and fair. Faith and hope bring us closer to God, but love is how we show it. It’s like love turns our beliefs into actions that make a difference.
Here’s something cool: love never ends. Faith is awesome because it helps us believe in God, but one day we’ll see Jesus and won’t need faith anymore (2 Corinthians 5:7). Hope is great because it keeps us excited for God’s plans, but when those plans happen, we won’t need hope (Romans 8:24-25). Love, though? It’s different. Even in heaven, we’ll still love God and each other. That’s why love is the greatest—it’s forever!
The biggest example of love is Jesus. He said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Jesus didn’t just talk about love—He showed it by dying on the cross to save us. That’s the kind of love we’re supposed to copy, like helping others even when it’s hard or costs us something. Faith and hope keep us strong, but love pushes us to do what Jesus did.
The world can feel so divided sometimes, right? People fight and don’t get along. But love is like a bridge that connects everyone. It fixes broken relationships and changes hearts. Paul says that without love, all our talents and even our faith don’t mean much (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). When we love others, we show them what God’s like. A church full of love is like a bright light that invites people to know Jesus. Love is the greatest because it changes us and the world.
So, how do we make love the biggest part of our lives? It starts with spending time with God—praying, reading the Bible, and worshipping Him. When we feel God’s love, it’s easier to share it. We can show love by being kind, forgiving people who hurt us, or helping someone who needs it. Whether it’s with our family, friends, or even people who are tough to love, love shows everyone we follow Jesus.
Faith helps us trust God, hope helps us keep going, but love gives us a reason to live like Jesus. Love is the greatest because it’s who God is, it covers all His rules, it lasts forever, and it changes everything. As Christians, let’s make love our number one goal. When we do, we’re closer to God and we help the world see His light.
“Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14)
Let’s try every day to love like Jesus does!