And the greatest of these is LOVE…

This post and the photos within it contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking an affiliate link, my ministry gets a small commission, with no extra cost to you. See my full disclosures HERE.

1 Corinthians 13

I finally finished it ya’ll!

I’d been working on this hand-lettered artwork of 1 Corinthians 13:13 for six weeks (but really, the idea was in the works long before that). Granted, there were a few weeks that I was not able to work on it because I was too busy with other things, but still, it feels like a really long time.

What do you think? Was it worth it?

Christian wall art - 1 Corinthians 13

So, to celebrate, I want to talk a little bit about this wonderful verse that is a favorite of so many believers.

Some time ago, I saw a pastor on TV give a sermon about 1 Corinthians 13. And he said something that has stuck with me ever since…

Traditionally, we tend to look at this passage as a how-to manual of sorts, telling us what true love really looks like. But, when we look at it through that lens, we always fall short and find it oh-so-hard to live up to.

But what that pastor said, is that we need to look at it first as a description of God’s love—His perfect, all-consuming love—that we are to look up to and emulate.

1 Corinthians 13: God is Love

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. -1 John 4:7

Try reading these key parts of 1 Corinthians 13 with that in mind. You can even insert “God’s” in front of every “love”, so for example: “God’s love never fails” (verse 8).

It truly does give a different perspective, that this is God’s perfect love, the example we are to follow. We won’t ever be perfect at it like He is, and God knows that. The important thing is that we try our very best to follow His model of love.

NOTE: Both passages below are in the Amplified (AMP) version, which is so helpful for expounding on the original meanings of the Hebrew and Greek words.

v4-7 :: Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].

v13 :: And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.

God’s love is the greatest, can I get an AMEN?! ❤️ ✝️

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top