Love Never Fails

Post date: Apr 18, 2018 4:50:30 PM

We recently concluded our study of 1 Corinthians 13. It was a deeply meaningful time taking a closer look at what it means to love others.

And so we come to 1 Corinthians 13:8, “Love never fails.”

If you’re like me, you may have said, “Wait! What does that really mean?” After all, we fail--you and I. We fail. Time and again. Oh, we may get back up, brush ourselves off and make another attempt, but we’re bound to fail. Again, and again.

We lose patience, neglect kindness, we can be rude and irritable (for other ways we fail to demonstrate love, please reference 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. :o)

There have been times I’ve read this chapter thinking, “I’ll NEVER measure up!” The reality is, I won’t! But I’ve had the wrong perspective.

When we ask, “How do we love with a love that never fails?” the focus is on us. But it’s not us that will never fail; it’s love that will never fail.

In the original text, the Greek word for “love” is agape, meaning, “affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love.” The Greek word for “fail” is ekpipto and it means, “to fall powerless, to fall to the ground, be without effect.”

Love never fails.

In other words, love is never without effect, without power.

Recently we celebrated Passion Week — a time we reflect on Christ’s death on the cross. The greatest act of love the world has ever known! But it didn’t end in death. After all, love never fails!

Read Romans 5:6-11 and see what Scripture has to say about the greatest act of love the world will ever know. Then consider anew verses 8-9:

But Christ proved God’s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly! And there is still much more to say of his unfailing love for us! For through the blood of Jesus, we have heard the powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in my sight.” — Romans 5:8-9 (The Passion Translation).

Love never fails. Love is never without effect, without power. Love always produces something.

The love of Christ produced full forgiveness and atonement for our sins. Yours and mine. According to Romans 5:6-11, we are made righteous; we will never experience the wrath of God; we are fully reconciled to God; we receive something greater than friendship; we are at peace with God; we share in His resurrection life; we are rescued from sin’s dominion; we overflow with triumphant joy; and we have a new relationship of living in harmony with God. These are just a few of the effects - the results - of Christ’s great love.

What impact does this truth have in our daily lives? What effect does knowing and embracing the depth of His love for you and me have in our in interactions with each other?

Christ’s love is powerful and transforming. His love never fails — it is not without effect or impact. In fact, His love beckons us to respond.

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. — 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NIV).

So today, let’s be intentional about our response to Christ’s unfailing love. Let’s no longer live for ourselves, but for Christ who died for us. As we do so, we see the effects of His great love. Quite possibly in the lives of those we’re loving on; most assuredly in our own lives! Especially as we’re rooted in Christ.