"And now faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is LOVE."
First Corinthians 13:13 says that love is the greatest thing. Faith and hope are vitally necessary, but as important as they are, they are not more important than love. Jesus gave us one new commandment which is to love one another as He loved us. He said that this would be the way the world knows we are His disciples'
" I give you a new commandment; that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. ~John 13:34.
Love is not theory or talk, but action. It is revealed in the way we talk to people, how we treat them, and what we do or don't do for them. Love has many very practical facets and can be seen in a variety of ways. For example, love is patient. When people are walking in love, they are longsuffering with the weaknesses and faults of others. Instead of believing the WORST, love always believes the best of every person.
Love is not rude. It actually strives to have good manners and that is something we desperately need in society today. Love takes time to say "please" and "thank you." Love takes time to really listen when others are talking. It is genuinely interested in others. Love builds people up; it edifies. Love does not find fault and criticize.
One of the facets of love that I enjoy thinking about is that love covers a multitude of sins. Love DOES NOT expose people's faults. Instead it actually covers them unless, of course, something really needs to be exposed and then love handles the situation appropriately and with wisdom. So often we rush to tell every negative thing we hear or know about anybody, but real love does not behave that way. Love treats other people the way it wants to be treated. Ask yourself, "Would I want someone to spread rumours about me and be a tale-bearer, or would I want them to cover my faults and pray for me?" Of course, we know the answer, but still we often follow the flesh and do what we know we should not do.
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