Thursday, January 31, 2019

Verse of the Day 1/31

Verse of the Day 1/31

1 Corinthians 13:12-13   For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.   New King James Version (NKJV)

Yesterday from Matthew 6 we considered how the lamp of the body is our eyes, but what we see if often determined by our mind set.  If we are focused on money we will miss many other things that God has for us and opportunities to give, to share and to love.  Today's verses are the final two verses in "the love chapter" of 1 Corinthians 13.  In these verses we may realize that even at our best we still only see dimly, we don't have perfect vision, a perfect view of who God is or of the opportunities that He puts before us.  At the same time, we look forward we look beyond with faith, we look to the future with hope, and we see best when we see with love.

John Eldred expounds on faith, hope and love as he writes, "By saying they last forever, God names these three as immortal powers. A life without faith has no meaning; a life without love isn't worth living; a life without hope is a dark cavern from which you cannot escape. These things aren't simply "virtues." Faith, hope, and love are mighty forces meant to carry your life forward, upward; they are your wings and the strength to use them."

In this life we will experience trials and frustrations which will often cloud our vision.  But may we hold on in faith, hope and in love as we look forward to the day when we will see God face to face, have answers to questions that we can't be begin to grasp now with our clouded view.    But while we wait, above all else "let love be the beautiful prize for which you run."

 For now we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries[n] as though reflected in a mirror, but one day we will see face-to-face.[o] My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything, just as everything about me has been fully understood. 13 Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all.[ So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.  1 Corinthians 13:12-13 The Passion Translation

Read the passage below, may we have a love that is gentle and consistently kind.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

1 Corinthians 13:4-13 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Love is large and incredibly patient.[a] Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous[b] when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one's achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated[c] or quick to take offense.[d] Love joyfully celebrates honesty[e] and finds no delight in what is wrong.[f] Love is a safe place of shelter,[g] for it never stops believing the best for others.[h] Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.

Perfect Love

Love never stops loving.[i] It extends beyond the gift of prophecy, which eventually fades away.[j] It is more enduring than tongues, which will one day fall silent. Love remains long after words of knowledge are forgotten.[k] Our present knowledge and our prophecies are but partial,[l] 10 but when love's perfection arrives, the partial will fade away.[m]11 When I was a child, I spoke about childish matters, for I saw things like a child and reasoned like a child. But the day came when I matured, and I set aside my childish ways.

12 For now we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries[n] as though reflected in a mirror, but one day we will see face-to-face.[o] My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything, just as everything about me has been fully understood. 13 Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all.[p] So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.

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