Blessing Out Of Disaster

Blessing Out Of Disaster

[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Cor 13:7

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1 Corinthians 13

Love

1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

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I just saw a young husband and father face a very difficult task today. While
working in my office, he received an email from his outside employer. I saw him go
to his desk and after he fired up his computer, he read the email which informed
him that his services were no longer needed. He was out of a job. I watched him
struggle with the internal feelings and fears that he faced. I talked with him about
how God desires to bring blessing out of our dilemmas. I think he thought that I
was talking platitudes. Many people are facing personal struggles today.
They can’t see the hope of God’s promised faithfulness.

None of us are perfect and few of us have not experienced a similar situation as did
this young man. It can happen in a public gathering when something terribly unkind
is said by a person who we know has little respect for us. It is hurtful and
embarrassing. There are other times when we are hurt by someone who
does love us — that hurt is even more deeply felt.

Our text today tells us that love is the most enduring (and, dare I say, endearing)
character trait to which a follower of Jesus — or anyone else — can lay claim.
Love always protects. Isn’t that beyond comprehension? Imagine, Paul says as he is
inspired by God, “love always protects, always trusts (looks for the best), always
hopes (for the best) and always perseveres (in pursuit of the best).”

As you and I face the challenges of today, as we respond to difficult situations and
impossible people, may God help us to ALWAYS respond in a way that encourages
and offers hope. This does not mean that we throw discernment to the wind, but it
does mean that we take action only when we have settled on the course of action
that most nearly exemplifies the instruction of this passage.

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Heavenly Father, may I be sensitive today as I meet people facing difficult personal
challenges. May I be used to help them carry their burdens and to approach
You for understanding and direction. Amen.

- Noel Churchman

Noel was the Executive Director of Christian Horizons form 1976 to 2001. The devotionals we will be using are from a book he wrote in 2005 called “Walking with God”. Noel’s reflections are grounded in his experiences as an educator, and provider of supports for individuals with exceptional needs as well as his life as a dedicated follower of Christ.