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And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul outlined the spiritual gifts and how not everyone has every gift. At the end of chapter 12, he says we should eagerly desire the greater gifts. Chapter 13, therefore, is unpacking for us the greatest spiritual gift of all, and that is love. Faith and hope are to be greatly desired as well, but without love, we are nothing more than a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1). If we have every other spiritual gift under the sun, but have not love, we are nothing, and we have gained nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2-3).
Love, therefore, is the greatest of gifts given by God to His children. Why? Because when we love, we are most like God, for God is love (1 John 4:8). Not only that, but faith and hope shall find their ultimate fulfillment in Heaven, yet we shall love forever.
