Wednesday, July 1, 2020

The Greatest of These

By Jim Faughn

    We will probably hear more about love today than at any other time during the year. After all, it is Valentine’s Day. Flowers, candy, jewelry, cards, perfume, and other gifts will be exchanged in order for people to demonstrate love to each other. All of that is done because somebody decided a long time ago to designate this date as the appropriate time for such activities. (Actually, it originally had religious connotations.)
     Most of us are familiar with the Holy Spirit’s words as He inspired Paul to write, 

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13).
I thought that today might be an appropriate time to spend a few minutes with the greatest expression of love the world has ever known. Consider with me some of the things that makes the love of God, truly the greatest of these.  
    As we read what is arguably the most familiar verse in the Bible (John 3:16), we read about:

  • For God --- the greatest being
  • So --- the greatest degree
  • Loved --- the greatest motivation
  • The world --- the greatest of God’s creation (mankind)
  • That He gave --- the greatest expression of love
  • His only begotten son --- the greatest and most precious gift
  • That whosoever --- the greatest and broadest invitation
  • Believeth --- the greatest opportunity and challenge
  • In Him --- the greatest source of comfort
  • Should not perish --- the greatest danger
  • But --- the greatest contrast
  • Have --- the greatest possession
  • Everlasting life --- the greatest future
 - Jim Faughn serves as an elder and preacher for the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org

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