1 Corinthians 13:8

Paul is writing to a church that was obsessed with spiritual gifts — flashy prophecies, speaking in tongues, impressive knowledge. He's telling them that all these impressive abilities have an expiration date, but love doesn't. Like stars that look eternal but will eventually burn out, our spiritual gifts and even our accumulated knowledge will one day be obsolete. Only love lasts forever.

God, I'm addicted to being useful and impressive. Help me care more about loving people than fixing them. When my words and wisdom fall short, teach me the stubborn love that stays put. Make me someone who lasts. Amen.

Picture all the things you rely on to feel valuable — your sharp wit, your careful theology, your ability to pray eloquently, your years of Bible study. Now imagine every one of them suddenly unplugged, like a city during a power outage. What remains when the lights go out? Paul says only love keeps working when everything else goes dark. You've probably felt this when visiting someone with dementia who no longer recognizes you, or when your careful advice to a struggling friend falls flat. In those humbling moments, you discover that what matters isn't what you know or can do, but whether you stayed. The staying — that's love, and it never becomes obsolete.