1 Corinthians 13:7-8 

⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸Love never fails.

Wedding Vow

         When we talk about love, what comes to mind instantly? Most probably a picture of two lovers! Right? And for people in love, wedding ceremony is most wonderful moment. Well, which part of the wedding ceremony is most dramatic? It is the part of the wedding ceremony when both lovers could express their vow.

          The bride and groom may vow to each other, “I take you to be my wedded spouse, before God and these witnesses, I promise with God’s help to have you and to hold you from this day forward, for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in health and in sickness, to love and to cherish you, and to be a true and faithful spouse, as long as we both shall live; this is my pledge to you.”

         Wow! Those words in a wedding vow are so sweet and wonderful to hear. Those words of vow should be written, framed and displayed in their bedroom.

Who among us have written their wedding vows and framed it and hanged it in their bedroom? And how many wedded couples have seriously taken into consideration their wedding vows? Someone may rationalize, “Well, I always wear my wedding ring!” O course, many married individuals always wear their wedding ring as symbol of their fidelity and faithfulness to their marriage.

Similarly, many Christians wear cross pendants as symbol of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Biblically, what did Christ want us to practice as symbol of our love for him? Together, let’s reflect on what he declares in John 14:15-17. 

¹⁵If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you

Do you sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? Practically, how can we prove that the Holy Spirit is really living in us? We sense his love, joy, peace, patience in obeying the commands or prescriptions of Christ our Lord.

Christ did not require us to just say, “I love Christ!” Christ wants us to keep and follow his commands as practical proof of our love for him. He knows that we cannot totally obey his divine prescriptions by our ability. So, he appealed to God the Father to give his Holy Spirit to be with us and help us obey his commands.

We must diligently study the Scripture for us to know the prescriptions of Christ that we should obey. Let us reflect on James 1:25, ²⁵Whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Christ gave his divine commands for us to receive his blessings. Obeying Christ won’t just simply prove love for him. What else? We receive his blessings.

         As we continue our topic about love in 1 Corinthians, let us keep in mind that we obey Christ with agape or divine love of God. We cannot obey the Lord with our human initiatives. We should be motivated by agape love when we serve the Lord. Agape love should always flavor our obedience to the Lord. Why? Agape love always protects! What does agape love protect us from?

1. Love always protects

         The term “always” is properly interpreted as “in all things.” Agape love always protects us in all things. Obedience to the Lord attracts disappointment, and agape love protects us from negative effect of unexpected result of serving the Lord. Regardless of what comes out of our obedience to the divine command of Christ, we must make is sure we are prompted and protected by agape love.

The term “protect” includes “cover, conceal, ward off, bear with, endure patiently.” It is like roof to cover-over which is necessary as protection from heat, rain, or snow. Roof should endure to shield, cover and protect anything under it.

Similarly, agape love is the Lord’s protection and cover to preserve, hide and conceal us from possible destructive elements. Let us reflect on what it says in Psalm 91:1-4, ¹Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ²I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” ³Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. ⁴He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

         Whenever we dedicate vehicles, we read Psalm 91 to claim the promises of God for protection. But we must make sure that we have stronger faith that whatever happens, we still have sense agape love. God may protect the vehicle but if accident happens, agape love protects our heart from disillusion.

         Keep praying to be filled with the Holy Spirit always. With his presence in our life, his fruit of agape love grows stronger in us, and we trust the Lord always.

2. n Love always trusts

         Agape love is practically displayed while we trust God. The term “trust” is exemplified when we put money in the bank. We entrust to bankers our money, why? We believe that they take care and keep our money safe. Unless we need money for emergency matters, we let our money in the bank to have interest. We do not withdraw the money we put in the bank after one day, right?

         Similarly, when the Holy Spirit produces fruit of agape or divine love in our heart, we trust that the commands of Christ are prescriptions for blessedness, and so, we obey diligently, and not just one time obedience. What do you think?

         Reflect on what the Lord said about the servant who hid his master’s gold in Matthew 25:24-30, ²⁴The man who had received one bag of gold came. “Master,” he said, “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 

²⁵So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.” ²⁶His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? ²⁷Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. ²⁸So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. ²⁹For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. ³⁰And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

         The story is about trust in the Lord. The lazy servant did not trust his master just as his words had explained. He did nothing. The master suggested that his servant should have put the money in the bank to earn interest, but did not. The lazy servant was punished for doing nothing that benefits his master.

In comparison, there was a servant who was given ten bags of gold. He used the ten bags of gold of his master to earn ten bags of gold more, why?

This servant trusted that his master will reward him for his effort. Indeed the master rewarded him and gave him authorities of many things.

Christ our Lord will return sooner. We trust and expect that he rewards us according to our obedience to his commands. What authority will he give you?

Agape love is most manifested in our trust that the commands of Christ are prescriptions for our benefit. We obey Christ because we hope for his reward.

3.  Love always hopes

         The Holy Spirit produces agape love in us to trust Christ and hope that he protects us when things and situations are not favorable to us. The term “hope” is also trust which is actively waiting in expectation for God to fulfill his promise. Hope is confidence in the Lord, most particularly in completion of our salvation.

         Life on earth is challenging. Natural calamities, typhoon, hurricane, snow storm, tornado, earthquake or wildfire cause us troubles. Man-made calamities, recession, war, confusion on social media may bother anyone who is affected.

         Despite all the struggles of life, we encouraged everyone to be filled with the Holy Spirit and be thankful to God. We are reminded in Colossians 3:17,

¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

         The phrase, “Do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,” implies that lifestyle as believers of Christ should be dedicated to bring glory to him. Our behavior and word should manifest his transformational work in our life. Most often, our faith in God is tested anytime, why? The Lord wants us to sense it, if agape love is really active in us. Agape love protects us from possible confusion; it helps us trust and hope that God has designed series of events, good or bad, for our betterment.

         If you were promoted at your place of work, most probably, you rejoice.

         But if you’re ignored at your place of work, agape love keeps you trust and hope that God has better plan for you so that you persevere. Additionally, perseverance is most practical manifestation that we really are saved by the grace of God. If it is by his grace then, we do not rely upon our human efforts. Human effort has limits but agape love keeps us persevere serving diligently.

4.  Love always perseveres

         The term “persevere” implies “always continues strong; it never gives up.” Perseverance is not dependent on a situation, whether it is favorable or not. We persevere when agape or divine love of God causes us to trust and hope in him.

         It’s easy to be disheartened when we’re overwhelmed with responsibilities. Agape or divine love of God is all we need to keep on and never give up. We stand our ground when situation seems unproductive. We bear the burden against undesirable circumstances because we trust and hope for betterment.

         Together let us seriously reflect on what it narrated in Mark 5:24-29.

²⁴A large crowd followed and pressed around Jesus. ²⁵And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. ²⁶She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. ²⁷When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ²⁸because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” ²⁹Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

         According to experts, monthly period of women is very unpleasant. Women endure abdominal or pelvic cramps, lower back pain, bloating, sore chest, and some women have cravings for food and swinging of moods also. Just imagine such discomfort to happen every day for 12 years. Surely, you would spend all your money just to ease the pain; but still, nothing happens. That is tragic life.

         Well, that’s exactly what happened to the woman in the story. She had no more money for doctor’s appointment. Desperately, she trusted that she will be healed by just a simple touch of the garment of Jesus. Indeed, she was healed.

         Are you sick of your situation? How strong do you believe that Christ can heal you from infirmities? Keep praying to be filled with the Holy Spirit until you sense his agape love that protects you from being disheartened. Agape love is expressed in trust and hope to persevere. We practically apply agape love in what it advises in Philippians 4:6-9, ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ⁸Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

         When we are anxious of no immediate result to our obedience to Christ, the human tendency is to quit. There is time to persevere, and there is time to quit. So, how can we know when it is time for us to quit? Whether, we persevere or quit, our deciding factor is agape love. Despite unpleasant situation, agape love protects from emotional set back. Agape love never ends; it never fails.

5.  Love never fails

         The term “fail” means “fall down or come to an end.” Fail is practically exemplified when someone loses authority and can no longer enforce the law. Fail is like an elected official who was removed from the office.

         Likewise, when we cannot participate in the ministry and fail to practice our spiritual gift, it is not very pleasant. With agape love, we obey Christ and not fail.

         Agape love of God is eternal; it will never come to an end; it will never fail. No matter what situation we are in when agape love prevails in us we can thrive.

With agape love as our motivation, we also inspire others to persevere also.

As we celebrate church anniversary, what is it that you wish to remember personally for many, many years to come? You may not appreciate to think that you only participated for one day while attending the church, right? You want to tell your children and younger generation that you participated diligently.

Baptism

Baptism ceremony during church anniversary is very special moment. Water baptism is public testimony that we follow Christ in his death and his resurrection. When believers are immersed into the water, it is public declaration that the old self has been buried with Christ. When baptism candidates come out of the water, it is public declaration that they are resurrected to new self in Christ.

Baptism is simply public commencement to let Christ be Lord and Savior. There is no magical effect of water baptism. Water baptism cannot save anyone. We’re saved from eternal torture only by faith in Jesus Christ and his crucifixion. Baptism cannot change anybody. The Holy Spirit only can change us, and agape love practically proves our transformation. Let’s reflect on what it declares in James 2:20-24, ²⁰Do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? ²¹Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²²You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

         May the Lord keep on inspiring us to make sure that agape love motivates us to persevere! And despite unexpected circumstance, we trust and hope of his protection, and we diligently obey his prescriptions. May we continue to thrive, flourish, bloom to inspire others as we grow spiritually and increase numerically!

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