Unwrapping Advent: Through Voices of Wisdom Dec. 29

Sunday, December 29, 2024

Day 29

1 If I speak in tongues of human beings and of angels but I don’t have love, I’m a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and I know all the mysteries and everything else, and if I have such complete faith that I can move mountains,
but I don’t have love, I’m nothing.
3 If I give away everything that I have and hand over my own body to feel good about what I’ve done but I don’t have love, I receive no benefit whatsoever.

4 Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant,
5 it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable,
it doesn’t keep a record of complaints,
6 it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth.
7 Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. As for prophecies, they will be brought to an end.
As for tongues, they will stop. As for knowledge, it will be brought to an end.
9 We know in part, and we prophesy in part;
10 but when the perfect comes, what is partial will be brought to an end.
11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, reason like a child,
think like a child. But now that I have become a man,
I’ve put an end to childish things.
12Now we see a reflection in a mirror; then we will see face-to-face.
Now I know partially, but then I will know completely in the same way
that I have been completely known.
13Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—
and the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13: 1-13, CEB 

Love Never Fails

I grew up in a large family with siblings and cousins and wanted the same for my children. In 1982 our extended family grew as we added two new cousins. We were so excited about what these two cousins would share in life, being so close in age. We imagined the fun times, their experiences, and all the memories they would have together.

Unexpectedly, it wasn’t long before we realized one of them was special in their own way and they would not share the same life experiences. She would never run, play, or even speak. The baby boy grew into a strong young man, played sports, learned to love music, and graduated from college. Meanwhile, our precious baby girl learned to express her pleasure with a smile and her displeasure with tears. She only knew us, and what kind of persons we were, by the patience and kindness we showed. What a joy each child was to us, each in their own way.

Through God, we as a family experienced that Love is patient, love is kind… never jealous, never rude, and never fails. We continued to wrap both children in God’s love and trusted him. We thank God for the gift of each of them, and the lessons they taught us.

Reflect: How will you respond when something important to you differs from what you expected? Will you trust God and have faith in his never-ending love for you?

Pray: Father God, thank You for the many blessings in my life, not the least of these being my large family. Everything I have is a gift from You, including these two beautiful children. May I always remember to trust You, be thankful, and know that Your love never fails. Amen.

Darlene Poston
Faithbuilders Small Group
Methodist Women’s Fellowship