Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 13:8-13.
“8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:8-13.
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“Love never fails”.
Yesterday, I described God’s love as “heroic”. “God’s love saves!” But, there are isolated, “one-time”, “one-act” acts of heroism. But, not from God! God’s love never fails! Romans 8:26-39 gives us insight into how God’s love never fails.
“26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 Just as it is written,“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:26-39.
Reformed doctrine a/k/a Calvinism gives us a better understanding of God’s never-failing love. Reformed doctrine is in contrast to Arminian doctrine.
Arminian doctrine emphasizes man’s free will and teaches that God loves everybody and Christ died for everybody, but then God’s love stops and is in essence an isolated, one-time act of heroism, and it is up to man to follow through with his own “free will” works or faith, to basically save himself.
On the other hand, in sharp contrast, Reformed doctrine emphasizes God’s sovereignty and teaches that although salvation is limited to God’s elect, God’s love never fails in providing all that the elect need for salvation including limited (but completely effective) atonement, irresistible grace, and preservation of the saints. Praise God that His love never fails! This is the hope of Reformed Doctrine.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 