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Together in Christ: 'God-sustained Love Lasts Forever!' — 1 Corinthians 13:8 Sunday, February 11, 2024 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! — 1 Corinthians 13:8 NLT Key Thought Desiring spiritual gifts is commendable. [1] Unfortunately, our sinful nature can twist this holy desire and lead us to desire experiences that make us think we are more important to God's family than other believers. Seeking to be recognized as more valuable than others is both sinful and anti-Jesus. [2] Desiring to be more significant than others is wrong. Human accolades and status are fleeting. Jesus even taught that when the goal of our worship and service to God is to draw attention to ourselves, then we lose our future reward from God. [3] God — Father, Son, and Spirit — gives spiritual gifts to us based on His sovereign choice. [4] The gifts are part of this transient world that will pass away, and then those gifts will be useless to us because they are not needed. Several things last forever. Death can't strip them away or make them useless. Our relationship with God through Jesus, along with the Spirit's presence in us, lasts forever. [5] God's love for us, our love for God, and our love for each other all last forever. Loving God and loving others are the greatest commands. [6] They also are our way of touching what is eternal while we are still mortal! We love because God first loved us. [7] We also love because "love will last forever!" [8] [1] 1 Corinthians 12:31. [2] Luke 22:24-27; Philippians 2:1-11. [3] Matthew 6:1, 5, 16. [4] Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-7; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:10-11. [5] Romans 8:32-39; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30; 1 John 4:13. [6] Matthew 22:36-40. [7] 1 John 4:7-12, 3:16-18. [8] 1 Corinthians 13:8, 13. TODAY'S PRAYER Jesus, I want to love the Father and my brothers and sisters in Christ as You do! I ask the Holy Spirit to help me understand AND demonstrate that love with humility, kindness, and service. [A] Open my eyes to my ability to touch what is eternal as I follow Your example of loving sacrifice and service. Thank You, Lord Jesus. Amen.

[A] Romans 5:5; Ephesians 3:14-19.

Philippians 2:6-11.

RELATED SCRIPTURE READINGS

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Philippians 2:1-11