since today's valentine's, let's talk a little bit about Love.

:) from 1 Corinthians 13.

Love

1If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,^[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1. Only Love Counts (as shown in Verse 1-3)

Paul deals with the Corinthians' elevation of spiritual gifts

• miraculous gifts (1)
• spiritual endowments (2)
• personal sacrifice (3)

"without love", it all sums up to nothing.

2. Only Love Triumphs (as shown in Verse 4-7)

Paul deals with the Corinthians' spirit of division. What they were -

• prideful and arrogant- (1 Corinthians 4:6) (1 Corinthians 13:18-19) (1 Corinthians 5:2)
  
• self-centred (1 Corinthians 10:24)

Hence, Paul reminded us what true love entails.

3. Only Love Endures (as shown in Verse 8-13)

Paul deals with the Corinthians' claims to spiritual superiority

• Love lasts, while gifts and knowledge pass away (verse 8-10)
• Maturity is our aim (verse 11)
• Perfection awaits the world to come (verse 12-13) which is characterised by love.

i love verse 4-7. it often reminds me the purity of love. how it is unconditional and there's absolutely no expectation of returns. how it reminds us to give even though it may be difficult.

1 John 3:16-
This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us.