And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Paul describes the one thing that is greater than all the spiritual gifts - love. It is better to pursue love than to have the gift of speaking in tongues or prophecy or healing or others. He continues to describe what love is so that the definition of love is clear and no longer abstract or dependant on individual interpretation. Verses 4-10 are the definition of love. Paul urges the followers to grow up into maturity and putting aside childish things. He also compares the other great virtues of hope and faith but love is even above all these.




1 Corinthians 13
The Greatest Gift

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 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.

His Mercy Endures Forever

A few very helpful themes from this psalm as summarised in these key verses:
- "His mercy endures forever" - He will never get tired of us - how reassuring.
- "It is better to trust in the LORD" - than anyone else in the world.
- "in the name of the Lord I will destroy them" - there is power in His name.
- "The right hand of the Lord does valiantly."

This psalm brings to reminder God's mercy and salvation. Although God is the Almighty creator, He personally extends His mercy and saves each of us. The psalmist and anyone who understands what God has done for us will respond in thanksgiving and praise.



Psalm 118
Praise to God for His Everlasting Mercy

1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

2 Let Israel now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

3 Let the house of Aaron now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

4 Let those who fear the Lord now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

5 I called on the Lord in distress;
The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.

6 The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?

7 The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.

8 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.

9 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in princes.

10 All nations surrounded me,
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

11 They surrounded me,
Yes, they surrounded me;
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

12 They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

13 You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
But the Lord helped me.

14 The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.[a]

15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation
Is in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.

16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.

17 I shall not die, but live,
And declare the works of the Lord.

18 The Lord has chastened me severely,
But He has not given me over to death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I will go through them,
And I will praise the Lord.

20 This is the gate of the Lord,
Through which the righteous shall enter.

21 I will praise You,
For You have answered me,
And have become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.

23 This was the Lord’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save now, I pray, O Lord;
O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.

27 God is the Lord,
And He has given us light;
Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will praise You;
You are my God, I will exalt You.

29 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.