Men, in concluding this great chapter, 1 Corinthians 13 on the subject of love, the Apostle Paul states in verse 8 that prophecies, speaking in tongues, and knowledge shall vanish away, but God's agape love will never fail.

How tempting it is for us to allow the good to become the enemy of the best. Are we content as fathers to role model that which is good and miss out on that which is excellent? Men, I believe our families need fathers who have their spiritual priorities in such a place that this kind of love will be at the top of all virtues. There is nothing greater than love, for love is the predominate virtue of God's character.

The Apostle John in 1 John 4:7-8 states, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." God is love personified.

To be a "good father" is not good enough. Our families need loving fathers. They don't only need gifted fathers, knowledgeable fathers, prophetic fathers, hearing fathers, tongues speaking/interpreting fathers, faith that moves mountains fathers, as good as these things are. They need loving fathers who reflect and represent the greatest likeness of our Heavenly Father.

Love is par excellence.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, the devil and the world point to the cross of Christ and say, "Love failed. It ended upon a cross. It is foolishness." 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." To us who are saved, the cross means "unfailing love." We know the love God has given us to role model, first in our own home and then to the world, is the love that "never fails."

The truth is that love that involves sacrifice and death to self is the love that never fails. This is Calvary love. This is what Jesus meant when He spoke in Matthew 10:38-39, "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."

The devil meant the cross of Christ to be the biggest failure in the history of the world. Instead, the cross became the greatest triumph in the history of the world, for dying love never fails. Calvary love cannot fail. It is impossible for it to fail.

The devil, the wisdom of this world, and even false religion laughs and scoffs at Calvary love that endures the cross and despises its shame. But, God Himself approves it and crowns it with the highest honor.

Men, we must, at all costs, role model to our wife and family this sacrificing love that never fails.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, no matter how bleak and stormy the horizon of life may appear, never give up loving. Even when the object or objects of your love refuse to acknowledge your acts of love, and you are forced to be shut out of their lives, never stop being a loving person. The rejecters of your love are the losers. But, you can be the winner because you never give in to hate, spite, and a host of evil things that the rejecters of love get into.

We need to remember that there are many that reject God's love and are the worst off for doing so. One could easily think that God's love failed. It is true that some fail to give the correct response, but no one in hell will be able to point the finger at God and say, "God, you did not love me." God has only to point their attention to Calvary's cross to show them how much He loves. God never gives up on HIs love. I do not for one moment think that God enjoys to see even one sinner in hell. God's love never fails. The rejecters of Christ are the rejecters of His unfailing love.

Did God give up loving Israel when he turned His love toward the Gentiles? No. Isaiah 49:15-16 says, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." And Romans 11:1 says, "Hath God cast away his people? God forbid... God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew."

Even when your love may have been despised and rejected for a long time and you have had to turn to others who will receive your love, never give up loving. Never permit the battle you are going through to turn you into an unloving and unforgiving person. Your love in Christ is forever unfailing. It is forever forgiving. In some cases it may be forever rejected, but rejection has no authority to change you and stop Christ's love in you from always flowing.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, the love that God has for us and wants us to role model to our family, as well as to our fellow man, is a love that endures all testings and trials that come our way. We live in a time of epidemic marriage breakdown and the love of many Christians is waxing cold, not only toward their spouse, but also toward Christ (Matthew 24:12).

Men, our children desperately need parents who will stick to their love for one another "come what may." We may have to endure great financial loss, rising health care costs, the loss of employment, friends who have turn against us, or perhaps the loss of a loved one. All these losses can be most difficult to endure, but none should be allowed to in anyway limit our love and commitment to one another. In fact, all these trials can be used to draw us close to each other and to become more dependent on one another for mutual encouragement and wisdom.

I do not believe that God expects a woman to endure a violent husband who could do her physical or mental harm. Nor does God expect a woman to endure a husband who perverts his marriage relationship with pornography, homosexuality, or other sexual perversion. However, there are such things as lacking wisdom and certain immaturities that God calls us to endure with one another. We are fallen creatures. We all make mistakes and blow it from time to time. We must make allowances and not expect perfection from one another.

The love that "endures all things" is talking about the trials that come our way in life that will not compromise our personal salvation and righteousness. We are told to "resist the devil," not to endure him!

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell