06/10/2026
𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐈𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13).
Why does Paul say that love is the greatest? Faith and hope are essential to our walk with God today, but they are, in a sense, temporary. Faith trusts what we cannot yet see, and hope anticipates what has not yet arrived. But one day, both will be fulfilled. In God’s presence, faith will become sight, and hope will be realized. Love, however, will not fade. It will remain, perfected and unbroken, for all eternity. That alone tells us something of its greatness.
Yet love is often misunderstood. As one said, “Real love ain’t syrupy—it’s tough as nails.” That cuts through much of the sentimentality that surrounds the idea of love today. Our culture tends to reduce love to feelings, romance, or fleeting affection. We picture candlelit dinners, kind words, and emotional warmth. While those may be expressions of love, they are not its foundation.
Biblical love is far deeper and stronger. It is the active pursuit of what is best for another person, regardless of the cost. It engages the heart, but it is not ruled by emotion. It involves the will, the mind, and deliberate action. Love chooses patience when irritation would be easier. It shows kindness when it’s undeserved. It tells the truth when silence would be more comfortable.
Paul’s description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is not abstract—it is intensely practical. “Love suffers long and is kind… does not seek its own… bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” This is the kind of love that sustains a marriage, strengthens a family, and binds a church together. It is not just for weddings; it is for everyday life.
This kind of love is tested most in ordinary and difficult moments. It shows up when a toddler asks the same question for the 396th time, when a teenager rebels, when a spouse disappoints, or when a friend lets us down. In those moments, love is no longer theoretical—it becomes a choice. Will we react out of frustration and self-interest, or will we pursue what is best for the other person?
Real love is often forged in the “cauldron” of these experiences. Pressure reveals what is truly in our hearts. It exposes our selfishness, our impatience, and our limits. But it also becomes the place where God does His deepest work. As we choose to love—sometimes weakly, sometimes imperfectly—we begin to experience God’s love more fully ourselves. We learn not just what love is, but how it transforms.
Love is the greatest because it reflects the very nature of God. “God is love” (1 John 4:8). When we love others in this way, we are living out His character in a tangible, visible way. And unlike faith and hope, this kind of love will never end. Love is eternal. Faith will become sight and hope will be fulfilled, but love will continue forever in God’s presence.
Love is a choice, not just a feeling. It acts for the good of others even when emotions don’t cooperate. Love is strongest under pressure. Difficult relationships and situations reveal—and refine—our capacity to love. Love requires sacrifice. It often costs time, energy, pride, and personal comfort. Love reflects God’s nature. To grow in love is to grow in likeness to Him. Love transforms us. As we practice it, even imperfectly, God deepens our understanding and experience of His love.
In the end, the measure of a life is not how much we knew or accomplished, but how well we loved.
Rickie Jenkins