Latest Devotion
The Greatest of These is Love
By: Julie Maschhoff
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:13
When you hear the word love, what do you think of? Perhaps a song about love drifts into your consciousness from your past. For example, back when we were young, many of us learned a song called “Jesus Loves Me” at church.
If you're my age, “Some Enchanted Evening,” from the movie South Pacific might be your favorite, or maybe you prefer “Love Me Tender” by Elvis. Throughout history, songwriters and singers have expressed their ideas about love in their music, and famous poets have expressed their feelings about love in beautifully written poems.
When you hear the word love, does it remind you of family members? Does it make you think about your parents, siblings, children, or grandchildren? Marketing specialists have turned Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day into moments we're expected to show our love by giving our loved ones a card or a gift. If you're an animal lover, the word love may prompt you to think about your pet. Others may claim to love chocolate, pizza, or candy. We can love almost anything, can’t we?
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10
God's Word tells us how we should love one another, and the word love is mentioned 508 times in scripture. Love is a central theme of scripture because God is Love! He loves us so much He promises to be with us every step we take. He won't leave or forsake us, even when we aren't making Him our priority. Christ follower, God loved you so much, He sacrificed His only son to secure your eternal destination... Isn’t that incredible? If you want to know what true love looks like, try to imagine the pain and suffering Christ endured for us!
Every step of our lives God showers us with His love. He speaks to us lovingly, and He encourages us with His Word and through His Holy spirit. Could we ask for anything better? But in His Word, God says we must love others the same way He does. That can be hard, so if we're struggling to love others as He commands, then we must ask Him to help us.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the love you showed us by sending your Son to die for our sins. We don't always love others like you want us to, so help us love them like you. Thank you for walking with us each day and thank you for making us more like Jesus!