May 25 | 1 Corinthians 13
- Elaine Pierce
- May 25, 2025
- 2 min read
DAILY READING
REFLECTION
All You Need is Love?
By Elaine Pierce
What can I write about 1 Corinthians that hasn't already been written? How many times have you heard this read at weddings? It is such a well-loved and well-known passage, but let's take some time to look at it with fresh eyes.
In Greek, love has three distinct meanings: Eros (romantic, sexual love), Philia (brotherly friendship) and Agape (unconditional self-sacrificing love). John 3:16 is a great example of Agape love, and in today's passage, Paul is using love in the agape sense. So, yes, we read this at weddings, but perhaps we need to look more closely at how we are to love one another in this context, not just on wedding days.
Have you ever read verses 4-7 and put your own name in place of love? Elaine is patient, Elaine is kind, Elaine does not envy, Elaine does not boast, Elaine is not proud.....I have to stop, because that is too convicting! I fall far short, but thanks be to God that he sent his son as the perfect example of agape love. Jesus is patient. Jesus is kind. Jesus does not envy. Jesus does not boast. Jesus is not proud. And one day, we shall see him face to face. He is our savior, and it's only through him that we can experience agape love.
Is there someone in your life who needs this kind of love? Ask God to open your heart to how you can serve a neighbor, a friend, a colleague. Yes, faith, hope and love remain. And the greatest of these is love. Not Hollywood love. Not even wedding day love. But agape love that our Father freely gives us. What a gift! Now go use it to his glory.
PRAYER
Lord, I want to love like you do. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to love unconditionally, sacrificially, as you first loved me. Amen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ELAINE PIERCE
It is a delight and joy to write Sunday's UALC Blog post. I have been a UALC member for 20+ years and I value our community of believers. I draw strength from God's Word, and it is my hope that you join me in seeking to grow closer to Him as we read, study, and pray together. I've been married to Gene for 47 years, and we have four grown children and nine grandchildren. It is an exciting time to be alive, and I count it all joy to serve him, even in the midst of challenges. To God be the glory, for the great things he is doing!
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