100:00:00,500 –> 00:00:10,580The reason we can grow in love is that God first loved us.200:00:10,580 –> 00:00:15,440You are right now loved with an everlasting love.300:00:15,440 –> 00:00:21,920And the more you believe that, the more you will be able to grow in love.400:00:21,920 –> 00:00:24,559Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith!500:00:24,559 –> 00:00:27,700I’m David Pick, I’m glad you could join us today.600:00:27,700 –> 00:00:31,000Colen, what an encouraging subject for us today!700:00:31,000 –> 00:00:32,860The love of God for us.800:00:32,860 –> 00:00:38,560Yeah, that’s right, I mean no one can pour something out unless that is first poured in.900:00:38,560 –> 00:00:45,040And our ability to love other people, especially when that is hard1000:00:45,040 –> 00:00:51,639comes from receiving the love that the Lord Jesus Christ pours out into us.1100:00:51,639 –> 00:00:54,020What a marvellous thing this is!1200:00:54,060 –> 00:00:58,020The ability to forgive someone who has hurt you1300:00:58,020 –> 00:01:02,099comes from the knowledge that you yourself have been forgiven1400:01:02,099 –> 00:01:05,019from your own sins towards God.1500:01:05,019 –> 00:01:08,620The reason for being patient with another person1600:01:08,620 –> 00:01:13,400is because you have a profound knowledge of God’s patience in regards to you.1700:01:13,400 –> 00:01:17,879So we love because he has first loved us1800:01:17,879 –> 00:01:21,040and it’s because his love continues to flow into our lives1900:01:21,040 –> 00:01:26,559or rather as it flows into our lives that it’s able to flow from us as well.2000:01:26,559 –> 00:01:29,879So today we’re in 1 Corinthians chapter 132100:01:29,879 –> 00:01:32,820so join us there if you can as we continue the message2200:01:32,820 –> 00:01:34,940Love is our greatest need.2300:01:34,940 –> 00:01:36,559Here is Pastor Colin.2400:01:36,559 –> 00:01:41,660Love will produce the good fruit of patience2500:01:41,660 –> 00:01:44,180and of kindness in you.2600:01:44,180 –> 00:01:49,000They are the fruits of growing in love.2700:01:49,980 –> 00:01:52,860And then there’s more because that’s just the beginning.2800:01:52,860 –> 00:01:54,720Look at what he says.2900:01:54,720 –> 00:01:58,000Love does not envy.3000:01:58,000 –> 00:02:00,940Now again, try and get this settled in your mind.3100:02:00,940 –> 00:02:04,519This is not saying, oh, if you’re going to grow in love3200:02:04,519 –> 00:02:06,900well, you have to get rid of all envy3300:02:06,900 –> 00:02:08,699no, it’s the other way round3400:02:08,699 –> 00:02:11,619it’s saying if you grow in love3500:02:11,619 –> 00:02:17,080you will be delivered from the destructive power of envy3600:02:17,279 –> 00:02:19,080and this is really good news3700:02:20,119 –> 00:02:21,720because somewhere in your life3800:02:21,720 –> 00:02:24,919you’re going to experience someone being given3900:02:24,919 –> 00:02:29,119something that you feel should have been given to you.4000:02:29,119 –> 00:02:32,979You’ll feel that someone else was shown favor4100:02:32,979 –> 00:02:35,800that should have been shown to you4200:02:35,800 –> 00:02:40,320and that they did not deserve what they received4300:02:40,320 –> 00:02:44,880but what we’re learning here is that when that happens4400:02:44,880 –> 00:02:48,600it’s love that will deliver you4500:02:48,600 –> 00:02:52,399from the self-destructive power of envy4600:02:52,399 –> 00:02:55,199and therefore the more you grow in love4700:02:56,080 –> 00:03:00,000the more content you’re going to become.4800:03:01,240 –> 00:03:06,119Love in other words is God’s antidote to envy.4900:03:06,960 –> 00:03:09,919Love will release you from the self-destructive power5000:03:09,919 –> 00:03:12,220of bearing a grudge.5100:03:12,220 –> 00:03:14,300It will enable you to rejoice.5200:03:14,300 –> 00:03:16,860When God gives to someone else something5300:03:16,860 –> 00:03:21,860that he did not give to you the more you love5400:03:21,860 –> 00:03:24,619the more content you will be.5500:03:26,179 –> 00:03:27,960And then the Apostle goes further.5600:03:27,960 –> 00:03:31,300He says, love does not boast.5700:03:31,300 –> 00:03:35,179It is not arrogant.5800:03:35,179 –> 00:03:38,000And here of course love is dealing5900:03:38,000 –> 00:03:40,619with the opposite temptation.6000:03:40,699 –> 00:03:45,600Envy focuses on what my neighbor has and I do not.6100:03:45,600 –> 00:03:48,740Pride of course focuses on what I have6200:03:48,740 –> 00:03:53,139or what I’ve done and my neighbor has not.6300:03:53,139 –> 00:03:55,759Pride wants other people to see who I am6400:03:55,759 –> 00:04:00,759and what I have done, and love is God’s antidote to pride.6500:04:03,020 –> 00:04:08,020Love does not boast, it is not arrogant.6600:04:08,899 –> 00:04:12,179Love is going to produce the good fruit6700:04:12,179 –> 00:04:15,479of humility in your life.6800:04:15,479 –> 00:04:20,480The more you love, the more humble you will be.6900:04:22,779 –> 00:04:25,459And then notice what Paul says next,7000:04:25,459 –> 00:04:30,459love is not rude, it does not insist on its own way.7100:04:33,579 –> 00:04:36,059That’s interesting looking at different ways7200:04:36,059 –> 00:04:40,260in which this phrase rude is translated7300:04:40,260 –> 00:04:43,019in other versions of the Bible.7400:04:43,019 –> 00:04:45,700The most literal translation is7500:04:45,700 –> 00:04:50,700that love does not act unbecomingly.7600:04:50,739 –> 00:04:54,619The old King James version of the Bible says7700:04:54,619 –> 00:04:59,260love does not behave itself un-seemly.7800:04:59,260 –> 00:05:01,640Another way that we might say that is7900:05:01,640 –> 00:05:05,420love does not behave inappropriately.8000:05:07,019 –> 00:05:11,380Now, one writer catches the meaning8100:05:11,380 –> 00:05:14,339of this very important phrase well8200:05:14,339 –> 00:05:18,540when he says that love considers the fitness8300:05:18,540 –> 00:05:21,839and the propriety of things.8400:05:21,839 –> 00:05:26,839It is careful of what would touch painful feelings.8500:05:28,339 –> 00:05:33,339It is attentive to the courtesies of life.8600:05:34,160 –> 00:05:37,399Now, the point here is that it’s very easy8700:05:37,399 –> 00:05:41,760to get so taken up with yourself and your own world8800:05:41,760 –> 00:05:43,140and what you’re trying to get across8900:05:43,140 –> 00:05:44,820in what you’re saying or whatever9000:05:44,820 –> 00:05:48,059that you speak in a way that is insensitive9100:05:48,059 –> 00:05:53,059and that causes hurt or offense to another person.9200:05:54,019 –> 00:05:56,239You didn’t intend to do that.9300:05:56,239 –> 00:05:59,660It’s just that you didn’t think.9400:05:59,660 –> 00:06:01,980You were so taken up with yourself9500:06:01,980 –> 00:06:05,799that you didn’t think about how your words9600:06:05,799 –> 00:06:08,100would actually affect another person,9700:06:08,100 –> 00:06:11,260how your words would land on them.9800:06:11,260 –> 00:06:16,019Now, this verse is telling us that love9900:06:16,019 –> 00:06:20,239is God’s antidote to putting your foot in it.10000:06:20,239 –> 00:06:22,959You know, we all know the person10100:06:22,959 –> 00:06:26,079who’s like a bull in a china shop10200:06:26,079 –> 00:06:29,059and no one wants to be like that person10300:06:30,059 –> 00:06:34,140unaware of him or herself,10400:06:34,140 –> 00:06:38,160unaware of his or her own impact10500:06:38,160 –> 00:06:40,779on other people.10600:06:40,779 –> 00:06:42,079And what we’re learning here,10700:06:42,079 –> 00:06:43,119and it’s very important,10800:06:43,119 –> 00:06:47,399is that love will equip you10900:06:47,399 –> 00:06:52,899to be able to discern how to come across11000:06:52,899 –> 00:06:54,559what to say,11100:06:54,559 –> 00:06:56,579how to say it,11200:06:56,600 –> 00:07:00,140and when to say it.11300:07:00,140 –> 00:07:02,500Another way that we might say this today11400:07:02,500 –> 00:07:06,140is love will help you to grow11500:07:06,140 –> 00:07:09,739in emotional intelligence.11600:07:09,739 –> 00:07:12,519It will equip you11700:07:12,519 –> 00:07:15,679for sustaining healthy relationships.11800:07:15,679 –> 00:07:17,820That’s what’s being meant11900:07:17,820 –> 00:07:19,359by this remarkable phrase12000:07:19,359 –> 00:07:22,459in this statement of the Apostle Paul.12100:07:22,459 –> 00:07:24,700Growing in love will enable you12200:07:24,720 –> 00:07:28,500to behave and to speak appropriately.12300:07:28,500 –> 00:07:30,899You’ll learn tact.12400:07:30,899 –> 00:07:34,459You’ll have greater self-awareness.12500:07:34,459 –> 00:07:36,700And the reason that you’ll grow in these things12600:07:36,700 –> 00:07:41,700is that you are more aware of the needs of others12700:07:42,059 –> 00:07:45,700and you’re less taken up with yourself.12800:07:47,420 –> 00:07:49,540Then Paul goes even further12900:07:49,540 –> 00:07:52,019and he tells us that love13000:07:52,359 –> 00:07:55,380is not irritable or resentful.13100:07:55,380 –> 00:07:57,820Or again, as the Old King James translates it,13200:07:57,820 –> 00:08:02,820it is not easily provoked and it thinks no evil.13300:08:05,100 –> 00:08:08,440That’s a literal translation of the phrase13400:08:08,440 –> 00:08:10,540is not resentful.13500:08:10,540 –> 00:08:14,059Love does not reckon evil.13600:08:14,059 –> 00:08:16,739It thinks no evil.13700:08:18,260 –> 00:08:20,859Now when you’re provoked13800:08:22,299 –> 00:08:25,500it is very easy and natural13900:08:25,500 –> 00:08:30,339to think the worst of the person who provoked you.14000:08:31,260 –> 00:08:36,260A suspicious heart always assumes the worst.14100:08:36,739 –> 00:08:39,840He said that to hurt me.14200:08:42,340 –> 00:08:45,299But a loving heart thinks the best.14300:08:46,780 –> 00:08:51,580A loving heart puts the best possible construction14400:08:53,000 –> 00:08:55,679on difficult things that happen in life.14500:08:57,380 –> 00:08:59,020Love will say, you know what?14600:08:59,020 –> 00:09:04,020That was really hurtful, but I don’t think it was malice.14700:09:05,460 –> 00:09:07,859It may just have been that it was thoughtless.14800:09:07,859 –> 00:09:10,840You see that’s putting the best construction14900:09:10,840 –> 00:09:13,340rather than the worst construction.15000:09:13,340 –> 00:09:17,820Thinking the best rather than thinking the worst.15100:09:18,739 –> 00:09:23,739Love is God’s antidote to a suspicious heart.15200:09:25,059 –> 00:09:27,700It will deliver you from feeling15300:09:27,700 –> 00:09:30,200that people are conspiring against you.15400:09:31,859 –> 00:09:33,580Love really will equip you for life.15500:09:33,580 –> 00:09:36,599It will do all of these things.15600:09:36,599 –> 00:09:39,739It is God’s remarkable gift,15700:09:39,739 –> 00:09:43,700the antidote to the suspicious heart.15800:09:43,700 –> 00:09:46,159And then notice what he says next.15900:09:46,200 –> 00:09:49,440Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing16000:09:49,440 –> 00:09:53,039but rejoices in the truth.16100:09:53,039 –> 00:09:55,280Now we’ve just seen from what Paul said16200:09:55,280 –> 00:09:57,359that love will always make16300:09:57,359 –> 00:10:00,500the most generous judgement possible.16400:10:00,500 –> 00:10:04,440It will always put the best possible construction on things16500:10:04,440 –> 00:10:09,039but that does not mean that love is blind.16600:10:09,039 –> 00:10:12,419Love can tell the difference between what is wrong16700:10:12,419 –> 00:10:15,840and what is right or true.16800:10:15,900 –> 00:10:17,840And you see that in Philippians chapter one16900:10:17,840 –> 00:10:19,820in verses nine and 1017000:10:19,820 –> 00:10:22,080where Paul is praying that the Philippians17100:10:22,080 –> 00:10:23,419will grow in love.17200:10:23,419 –> 00:10:25,500This is one of his great prayers17300:10:25,500 –> 00:10:28,059repeated again and again in the New Testament.17400:10:28,059 –> 00:10:28,900He says there,17500:10:28,900 –> 00:10:32,599It is my prayer that your love may abound17600:10:32,599 –> 00:10:37,619more and more with knowledge and discernment17700:10:37,739 –> 00:10:41,380so that you may approve what is excellent17800:10:41,380 –> 00:10:45,739and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.17900:10:45,739 –> 00:10:47,619See, as you grow in love,18000:10:47,619 –> 00:10:49,539this is one of the wonderful fruits18100:10:49,539 –> 00:10:51,140that will develop in your life.18200:10:51,140 –> 00:10:52,080The more you love,18300:10:52,080 –> 00:10:54,500the more you will be able to discern.18400:10:55,700 –> 00:10:57,340The more you will be able to tell18500:10:57,340 –> 00:10:59,900what is good and true18600:11:00,859 –> 00:11:03,460and you’ll be drawn to it18700:11:03,460 –> 00:11:05,539and you’ll find joy in it.18800:11:05,539 –> 00:11:07,380Grow in love18900:11:08,460 –> 00:11:12,080and you will grow in discernment.19000:11:13,000 –> 00:11:15,299And, as if that was not enough,19100:11:15,299 –> 00:11:17,820Paul then says in verse 7,19200:11:17,820 –> 00:11:20,599love bears all things,19300:11:20,599 –> 00:11:23,039believes all things,19400:11:23,039 –> 00:11:25,239hopes all things,19500:11:25,239 –> 00:11:28,479endures all things.19600:11:28,479 –> 00:11:30,119Grow in love19700:11:30,119 –> 00:11:31,960and you will be able to bear19800:11:31,960 –> 00:11:33,500the burdens that you carry.19900:11:34,359 –> 00:11:35,700Grow in love20000:11:35,700 –> 00:11:39,979and you will be able to form relationships of trust.20100:11:40,400 –> 00:11:41,760Grow in love20200:11:41,760 –> 00:11:44,239and you will always have a lively hope,20300:11:44,239 –> 00:11:48,159no matter how dark the circumstances that you may face.20400:11:48,159 –> 00:11:49,619Grow in love20500:11:49,619 –> 00:11:52,239and you will always be able to endure20600:11:52,239 –> 00:11:56,099however hard things become.20700:11:56,099 –> 00:12:00,679Love will equip you for life.20800:12:00,679 –> 00:12:02,340Grow in love20900:12:02,340 –> 00:12:05,679and you will have more patience and kindness.21000:12:05,679 –> 00:12:07,099Grow in love21100:12:07,099 –> 00:12:10,940and you will be delivered from the power of envy.21200:12:10,940 –> 00:12:11,880Grow in love21300:12:11,880 –> 00:12:14,099and you will grow in humility.21400:12:14,099 –> 00:12:15,159Grow in love21500:12:15,159 –> 00:12:19,880and you will develop emotional intelligence.21600:12:19,880 –> 00:12:20,719Grow in love21700:12:20,719 –> 00:12:22,440and you’ll put the best construction21800:12:22,440 –> 00:12:25,320on the words and actions of others.21900:12:25,320 –> 00:12:26,280Grow in love22000:12:26,280 –> 00:12:28,960and you will grow in discernment.22100:12:28,960 –> 00:12:31,599Do you see this is the most amazing gift?22200:12:32,960 –> 00:12:35,460It is the gift of supreme value.22300:12:36,440 –> 00:12:38,219So the Apostle is saying to us,22400:12:38,219 –> 00:12:42,619seek to grow in love.22500:12:42,619 –> 00:12:43,840You are listening to Open the Bible22600:12:43,840 –> 00:12:45,119with Pastor Colin Smith22700:12:45,119 –> 00:12:47,580and we’ve got to pause the message briefly there22800:12:47,580 –> 00:12:48,940but we’ll be back very shortly22900:12:48,940 –> 00:12:50,960so please stay with us.23000:12:50,960 –> 00:12:52,760The message today is called23100:12:52,760 –> 00:12:54,440Love is Our Greatest Need23200:12:54,440 –> 00:12:57,200and it’s part of the series Grow in Love.23300:12:57,200 –> 00:12:58,900If you’ve missed any of the series23400:12:58,900 –> 00:13:01,219or if you ever want to go back and listen again23500:13:01,219 –> 00:13:02,919you can do that by coming online23600:13:02,919 –> 00:13:04,159to our website23700:13:04,320 –> 00:13:07,020Openthebible.org.uk23800:13:07,020 –> 00:13:10,119or go to wherever you collect your podcasts from23900:13:10,119 –> 00:13:13,039and there search for Open the Bible UK.24000:13:13,039 –> 00:13:14,760You can find all of the messages24100:13:14,760 –> 00:13:16,280that have already been broadcast24200:13:16,280 –> 00:13:20,099on both the podcast and on our website.24300:13:20,099 –> 00:13:22,820We’re in 1 Corinthians chapter 13,24400:13:22,820 –> 00:13:23,659back to the message.24500:13:23,659 –> 00:13:25,500Here is Pastor Colin.24600:13:25,500 –> 00:13:27,500Philip Rykin makes the point.24700:13:27,500 –> 00:13:29,239I think very helpfully24800:13:30,440 –> 00:13:31,760that if you want to see24900:13:31,859 –> 00:13:33,940how much you need to grow in love,25000:13:35,080 –> 00:13:38,780then all you need to do is to put your name25100:13:38,780 –> 00:13:43,080in the place of love in verses four through seven.25200:13:44,119 –> 00:13:47,880I’ve done that and it’s really challenging.25300:13:48,760 –> 00:13:51,640So you put your name in as I read it with mine.25400:13:53,239 –> 00:13:55,580Colin is patient and kind.25500:13:56,400 –> 00:14:00,440Colin does not envy or boast.25600:14:00,440 –> 00:14:02,539He’s not arrogant, not rude.25700:14:03,599 –> 00:14:05,700He doesn’t insist on his own way.25800:14:07,580 –> 00:14:10,340He’s not irritable or resentful.25900:14:10,340 –> 00:14:12,039He doesn’t rejoice in wrongdoing,26000:14:12,039 –> 00:14:13,539but rejoices in the truth.26100:14:13,539 –> 00:14:17,099Colin bears all things, believes all things,26200:14:17,099 –> 00:14:20,640hopes all things, endures all things.26300:14:21,520 –> 00:14:25,719You try doing it and, like me,26400:14:25,719 –> 00:14:27,739you will find yourself saying,26500:14:27,739 –> 00:14:31,739I have such a long way to go.26600:14:35,299 –> 00:14:37,419But here’s the good news.26700:14:39,419 –> 00:14:41,640This may not be a description of the love26800:14:41,640 –> 00:14:43,859that right now you have26900:14:43,859 –> 00:14:47,260but it is a marvelous description27000:14:47,260 –> 00:14:49,380of the love that right now you receive.27100:14:50,719 –> 00:14:53,900Put the name of the Lord Jesus Christ27200:14:53,900 –> 00:14:55,559into these verses27300:14:55,559 –> 00:14:58,919and you have a perfect portrait27400:14:58,919 –> 00:15:00,440of our wonderful savior.27500:15:01,500 –> 00:15:05,599Jesus is patient and kind.27600:15:06,479 –> 00:15:11,320Jesus does not envy or boast.27700:15:11,320 –> 00:15:14,739Jesus is not arrogant or rude.27800:15:14,739 –> 00:15:17,000He does not insist on his own way.27900:15:17,000 –> 00:15:19,840He’s not irritable, he’s not resentful,28000:15:19,880 –> 00:15:22,159he does not rejoice in wrongdoing28100:15:22,159 –> 00:15:23,900but rejoices with the truth.28200:15:23,900 –> 00:15:28,440Jesus bears all things, believes all things,28300:15:28,440 –> 00:15:31,840hopes all things, endures all things.28400:15:31,840 –> 00:15:35,039Jesus never fails.28500:15:36,380 –> 00:15:39,900And friends this is the love with which we are loved.28600:15:40,840 –> 00:15:44,679God’s love surrounds you in Jesus Christ28700:15:44,679 –> 00:15:48,539and this is the love that is poured out28800:15:48,539 –> 00:15:52,099into our hearts by the presence and power28900:15:52,099 –> 00:15:53,979of the Holy Spirit.29000:15:53,979 –> 00:15:56,960The reason we can grow in love29100:15:58,260 –> 00:16:01,619is that God first loved us.29200:16:01,619 –> 00:16:06,299You are right now loved with an everlasting love29300:16:06,299 –> 00:16:08,979and the more you believe that,29400:16:08,979 –> 00:16:13,260the more you will be able to grow in love too.29500:16:14,260 –> 00:16:18,940Now next week, God willing, we’re going to look at how.29600:16:18,940 –> 00:16:21,299How can we grow in love?29700:16:22,419 –> 00:16:25,500But the why always has to come before the how.29800:16:25,500 –> 00:16:26,739Who’s interested in the how29900:16:26,739 –> 00:16:30,140unless we’ve been persuaded by the why.30000:16:30,140 –> 00:16:32,539That’s why we’ve taken these two weeks30100:16:32,539 –> 00:16:34,619in first Corinthians and chapter 1330200:16:34,619 –> 00:16:38,580that’s all about why we should pursue30300:16:38,580 –> 00:16:42,239this marvelous gift of love.30400:16:42,539 –> 00:16:44,299And I want in these last moments then30500:16:44,299 –> 00:16:46,440to point to the third reason30600:16:46,440 –> 00:16:48,219that Paul gives us in this chapter30700:16:48,219 –> 00:16:50,960and it’s in the later verses, runs right through them30800:16:50,960 –> 00:16:52,739but I will just focus on the last verse30900:16:52,739 –> 00:16:54,760of this wonderful chapter31000:16:54,760 –> 00:16:59,760where he points out that love will endure forever.31100:17:00,340 –> 00:17:05,339So now faith, hope and love abide.31200:17:05,439 –> 00:17:09,800These three but the greatest of these31300:17:09,800 –> 00:17:13,359are greatest of these is love.31400:17:15,599 –> 00:17:19,719When believers are filled with faith, hope and love31500:17:20,719 –> 00:17:23,060they shine like lights in the world.31600:17:24,459 –> 00:17:27,640When the world is marked by increasing fear31700:17:28,760 –> 00:17:31,520people who have a strong faith31800:17:31,520 –> 00:17:33,640are going to just shine like lights.31900:17:34,839 –> 00:17:38,680When the world is marked by increasing exasperation32000:17:38,680 –> 00:17:43,260and despair well people who have living hope32100:17:43,260 –> 00:17:45,500are just going to shine like lights.32200:17:46,660 –> 00:17:50,780When the world is marked by increasing anger and hostility32300:17:51,800 –> 00:17:53,900well people who are growing in love32400:17:53,900 –> 00:17:56,979are just going to shine like lights.32500:17:56,979 –> 00:18:00,500And that is why I am absolutely convinced32600:18:00,500 –> 00:18:02,579that the greatest need of the church today32700:18:02,579 –> 00:18:04,500is a fresh outpouring,32800:18:04,660 –> 00:18:09,520a growing in faith, hope and love.32900:18:09,520 –> 00:18:11,400Everyone wants to be loved.33000:18:12,339 –> 00:18:14,000Everyone wants to have hope.33100:18:14,000 –> 00:18:19,000Everyone wants to have something or someone to believe in.33200:18:19,079 –> 00:18:21,439Everyone is looking for faith, hope and love.33300:18:21,439 –> 00:18:23,199That’s the reality.33400:18:23,199 –> 00:18:25,280And we have found these33500:18:25,280 –> 00:18:28,339in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.33600:18:29,339 –> 00:18:34,339Now Paul says that faith, hope and love remain.33700:18:37,339 –> 00:18:40,300That’s why these are the things to go after.33800:18:40,300 –> 00:18:42,060They’re the things of enduring value.33900:18:42,060 –> 00:18:44,900Everything else passes away.34000:18:44,900 –> 00:18:49,359But these gifts have lasting value.34100:18:51,300 –> 00:18:55,119Lord, let me grow in faith, hope and love34200:18:55,119 –> 00:18:57,699all the days of my life.34300:18:59,180 –> 00:19:03,300But then notice that Paul says34400:19:03,300 –> 00:19:08,300the greatest of these is love.34500:19:08,579 –> 00:19:12,020Why is love the greatest?34600:19:13,420 –> 00:19:15,479Two reasons.34700:19:15,479 –> 00:19:19,719First, that God himself is love.34800:19:20,739 –> 00:19:23,219Bishop Ryle says it like this.34900:19:23,219 –> 00:19:27,660God has no need of faith35000:19:27,699 –> 00:19:29,900because he is dependent on no one.35100:19:31,219 –> 00:19:33,880God has no need of hope35200:19:33,880 –> 00:19:36,880because to him all things are certain,35300:19:36,880 –> 00:19:39,160past, present and future.35400:19:40,339 –> 00:19:45,339But God is love and the more his people grow in love,35500:19:45,619 –> 00:19:48,420the more like their father in heaven they become.35600:19:52,339 –> 00:19:54,760And then there’s a second reason35700:19:54,760 –> 00:19:56,839why love is the greatest,35800:19:58,060 –> 00:20:02,979and that is that faith and hope are gifts for a time,35900:20:03,719 –> 00:20:06,859but love will endure forever.36000:20:08,280 –> 00:20:13,280One day, your faith is going to give way to sight.36100:20:14,839 –> 00:20:16,880You won’t need faith when you see36200:20:16,880 –> 00:20:19,260the Lord Jesus Christ face-to-face.36300:20:19,260 –> 00:20:20,800What a day that’s going to be.36400:20:20,800 –> 00:20:25,140You’ve loved him, trusted him all these years.36500:20:26,020 –> 00:20:29,579And when you see him, you no longer need to trust him.36600:20:29,579 –> 00:20:32,939You see him, your faith is turned to sight,36700:20:32,939 –> 00:20:35,560and you’re in the joy of his immediate presence,36800:20:35,560 –> 00:20:38,560and that will be your blessing forever and forever.36900:20:40,380 –> 00:20:44,979And one day, your hope will be completely realized.37000:20:44,979 –> 00:20:46,800See, as long as we are here in this world,37100:20:46,800 –> 00:20:49,280we’re always looking forward.37200:20:50,900 –> 00:20:55,079Hope says, one day, one day,37300:20:55,119 –> 00:20:59,180one day the earth will be filled with the glory of God37400:20:59,180 –> 00:21:00,920as the waters cover the sea.37500:21:00,920 –> 00:21:04,219One day all wars will cease.37600:21:05,079 –> 00:21:08,420One day there’s going to be a new heaven and a new earth,37700:21:08,420 –> 00:21:13,420and one day God will wipe away all tears from our eyes.37800:21:13,959 –> 00:21:16,319You live with this hope,37900:21:16,319 –> 00:21:20,900this confidence in all that God has promised.38000:21:20,900 –> 00:21:24,760But a time will come when instead of seeing one day,38100:21:24,819 –> 00:21:27,439you’re going to say today,38200:21:27,439 –> 00:21:29,540because you’ve entered into it.38300:21:30,599 –> 00:21:34,319And when you enter into that eternal day,38400:21:34,319 –> 00:21:37,319all your faith will be vindicated,38500:21:37,319 –> 00:21:40,800all your hope will be wonderfully realized,38600:21:42,040 –> 00:21:45,739but your love, which is made perfect,38700:21:47,280 –> 00:21:48,640will endure forever.38800:21:50,280 –> 00:21:51,439You’ve been listening to38900:21:51,439 –> 00:21:53,699Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith39000:21:53,699 –> 00:21:56,979and a message called Love Is Our Greatest Need,39100:21:56,979 –> 00:22:00,020and it’s from the series, Grow in Love.39200:22:00,020 –> 00:22:01,599If you’ve missed any of the series,39300:22:01,599 –> 00:22:03,380it’s easy to catch up or go back39400:22:03,380 –> 00:22:05,619and listen to any of the messages again39500:22:05,619 –> 00:22:10,380by coming to our website on openthebible.org.uk39600:22:10,380 –> 00:22:13,180or go to wherever you collect your podcasts39700:22:13,180 –> 00:22:16,579and search for Open the Bible UK.39800:22:16,579 –> 00:22:18,920I know many of you listen to podcasts39900:22:18,920 –> 00:22:21,699and we’re excited to tell you about a new podcast40000:22:21,699 –> 00:22:23,099for Open the Bible.40100:22:23,099 –> 00:22:25,959It’s a companion to Pastor Colin’s book,40200:22:25,959 –> 00:22:27,500Hike Through the Bible.40300:22:27,500 –> 00:22:30,439Yeah, and each week, I’ll read a chapter from the book40400:22:30,439 –> 00:22:33,060and then I get to discuss it with some friends.40500:22:33,060 –> 00:22:34,780So, if you join us on the podcast,40600:22:34,780 –> 00:22:39,140in 50 weeks we’ll cover 50 chapters of the Bible together,40700:22:39,140 –> 00:22:41,500and in a year, you’ll have hiked40800:22:41,500 –> 00:22:43,880through the entire Bible story.40900:22:43,880 –> 00:22:46,500Now if you think hiking sounds like hard work,41000:22:46,500 –> 00:22:49,060don’t worry, I promise you this hike41100:22:49,060 –> 00:22:51,459will be an easy gentle piece.41200:22:51,459 –> 00:22:53,060There’s a link to the podcast41300:22:54,000 –> 00:22:56,380and lots more information on our website41400:22:56,380 –> 00:22:59,780at openthebible.org.uk.41500:22:59,780 –> 00:23:02,260At Open The Bible we’re able to do the work we do41600:23:02,260 –> 00:23:04,300in bringing you the radio program41700:23:04,300 –> 00:23:06,420and the internet and the podcasts,41800:23:06,420 –> 00:23:09,060only because of the generous support41900:23:09,060 –> 00:23:10,819which we receive from our listeners.42000:23:10,819 –> 00:23:13,979So if you already give to support Open The Bible’s work,42100:23:13,979 –> 00:23:15,900thank you so much.42200:23:15,900 –> 00:23:17,339This month, if you want to begin42300:23:17,339 –> 00:23:19,579to support Open The Bible financially,42400:23:19,579 –> 00:23:22,800we’d love to say thank you by sending you a free gift.42500:23:22,839 –> 00:23:25,359Here’s Open The Bible’s Amanda Cunningham42600:23:25,359 –> 00:23:26,719to tell us about it.42700:23:26,719 –> 00:23:29,160Everyone needs something to look forward to42800:23:29,160 –> 00:23:30,760but when life is difficult,42900:23:30,760 –> 00:23:34,560hope can feel distant and hard to hold on to.43000:23:34,560 –> 00:23:36,880That’s why we’re delighted to offer43100:23:36,880 –> 00:23:39,739Grow In Hope by Collin Smith.43200:23:39,739 –> 00:23:41,839This 30 day devotional is designed43300:23:41,839 –> 00:23:44,719to help you fix your eyes on God’s promises43400:23:44,719 –> 00:23:49,119and find fresh encouragement, even in challenging seasons.43500:23:49,119 –> 00:23:52,319Through daily Bible readings and practical reflections,43600:23:52,400 –> 00:23:54,479Pastor Collin explores what it means43700:23:54,479 –> 00:23:56,719to have a living hope in Christ,43800:23:56,719 –> 00:23:58,760a hope that sustains us in trials,43900:23:58,760 –> 00:24:01,060strengthens us in uncertainty44000:24:01,060 –> 00:24:03,739and gives us confidence for the future.44100:24:03,739 –> 00:24:06,920Drawing on scripture and years of pastoral experience,44200:24:06,920 –> 00:24:10,520he shows us how hope is not wishful thinking,44300:24:10,520 –> 00:24:15,119but a certainty grounded in God’s character and promises.44400:24:15,119 –> 00:24:17,079Grow in Hope can be read on its own44500:24:17,079 –> 00:24:20,880or alongside Grow In Faith and Grow In Love44600:24:21,020 –> 00:24:22,959as part of a devotional journey44700:24:22,959 –> 00:24:25,260through the enduring Christian virtues44800:24:25,260 –> 00:24:27,880of faith, hope and love.44900:24:27,880 –> 00:24:29,380Get your free copy today45000:24:29,380 –> 00:24:33,140when you give a one-off gift of at least £6045100:24:33,140 –> 00:24:37,359or set up a new monthly gift of £5 or more,45200:24:37,359 –> 00:24:39,920but please do remember to leave your name45300:24:39,920 –> 00:24:41,439and address when you give45400:24:41,439 –> 00:24:44,160so that we know where to send your book.45500:24:44,160 –> 00:24:46,760So, Pastor Collin’s book, Grow In Hope,45600:24:46,760 –> 00:24:49,680is our gift to you when you set up a new direct debit45700:24:49,859 –> 00:24:51,260to the work of Open the Bible45800:24:51,260 –> 00:24:54,540in the amount of £5 per month or more45900:24:54,540 –> 00:24:57,400or a one-off gift of £60 or more this month.46000:24:57,400 –> 00:24:59,699Full terms and conditions are on our website46100:24:59,699 –> 00:25:01,439and you can give online.46200:25:01,439 –> 00:25:03,199Please remember though, as Amanda says,46300:25:03,199 –> 00:25:04,920to leave your full name and address46400:25:04,920 –> 00:25:07,079so we can send you your gift.46500:25:07,079 –> 00:25:09,319For Open the Bible and Pastor Collin Smith,46600:25:09,319 –> 00:25:10,479I’m David Pick.46700:25:10,479 –> 00:25:11,800Glad you joined us today46800:25:11,800 –> 00:25:13,640and I hope you’ll be able to join us again46900:25:13,640 –> 00:25:15,339in our next program.47000:25:15,540 –> 00:25:18,479You’ve come to a place where you’re saying47100:25:18,479 –> 00:25:20,800I want to grow in love.47200:25:20,800 –> 00:25:22,459How is that possible?47300:25:22,459 –> 00:25:24,959Find out next time on Open the Bible.