Love Endures All
The thing about love is that many people have been hurt by it. You’ve loved, and in return, you’ve been hurt, leaving that pain lingering. When you think of love, it's often the hurt that comes to mind—“Love didn’t endure; someone let me down, the church hurt me.” These feelings are valid. Everyone has experienced the sting of worldly love. But what if we looked at love through God’s eyes?
Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, addressed a large church that was missing something essential—love. They had been hurt and disappointed by human love, but now it was time to talk about God's love, a love that never fails.
Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, addressed a large church that was missing something essential—love. They had been hurt and disappointed by human love, but now it was time to talk about God's love, a love that never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8 (a)
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.
Notice all the things that love is not:
You’ve never been hurt by God’s perfect, unconditional love.
God’s love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
- Love does not envy.
- Love does not boast.
- Love is not proud.
- Love is not rude.
- Love does not seek its own.
- Love is not easily angered.
- Love keeps no record of wrongs.
- Love does not delight in evil.
You’ve never been hurt by God’s perfect, unconditional love.
God’s love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
Just because God isn't answering your prayers immediately or things aren’t falling into place the way you expect doesn’t mean He isn’t working. Sometimes, the irritation you feel is part of the process—God can work in your frustration. It’s often through those moments of discomfort that He calls you to reflect on what matters to Him. Sometimes, you need to feel irritated about the things that irritates God's heart.
A pearl forms when a small particle, such as a grain of sand, enters an oyster and causes irritation. In response, the oyster secretes layers of nacre around the irritant, eventually creating a beautiful pearl through a natural chemical process. The largest pearl ever discovered, found in the Philippines, weighs an astonishing 75 pounds and is valued at $100 million. It took over 1,200 years of gradual irritation to form this extraordinary gem.
Below is a video showing the 75lbs pearl .
A pearl forms when a small particle, such as a grain of sand, enters an oyster and causes irritation. In response, the oyster secretes layers of nacre around the irritant, eventually creating a beautiful pearl through a natural chemical process. The largest pearl ever discovered, found in the Philippines, weighs an astonishing 75 pounds and is valued at $100 million. It took over 1,200 years of gradual irritation to form this extraordinary gem.
Below is a video showing the 75lbs pearl .
Big Idea: Love That Endures is attained with the training of irritableness.
Luke 18:1-8
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” 6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” 6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
She didn’t give up; she persistently prayed, believing that a breakthrough was on the way. She understood that even in the waiting, something valuable was being formed. Perhaps you’ve lost hope in prayer, feeling like it’s never going to happen. But remember, we don’t always understand how God works, and His timing and ways are beyond our comprehension. Trust that He is still at work.
Enduring Love Will Not Give Up
Luke 18:1
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
There’s a powerful consistency in Jesus’ teaching on prayer—it's all about connection. Through prayer, we stay intimately linked to God, continually drawing strength and guidance from Him.
Luke 18:1 Jesus emphasizes
"All men ought to PRAY! . . .
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Ephesians 6:18
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
There’s a powerful consistency in Jesus’ teaching on prayer—it's all about connection. Through prayer, we stay intimately linked to God, continually drawing strength and guidance from Him.
Luke 18:1 Jesus emphasizes
"All men ought to PRAY! . . .
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Ephesians 6:18
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Don’t Give Up…
- When the ark still needs building.
- When Goliath hasn’t fallen yet.
- When your pearl of perfection feels only half-formed…
But How?
Pray, Fast and Cast!
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Satan get thee behind me, I am a pearl in the making!
Mark 9:26
So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Pray, Fast and Cast!
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Satan get thee behind me, I am a pearl in the making!
Mark 9:26
So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Don’t give up…
Think of the woman who had suffered for 12 long years…
Don’t give up!
- God hears you…
- God sees you…
Think of the woman who had suffered for 12 long years…
- Jesus knew she was there…
- He was surely thinking, Just reach out and touch me…
- Come on, come on,
Don’t give up!
Enduring Love Will Not Be Easy
Luke 18:2-3
2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying,
‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’
He didn’t make it easy for her, and life isn’t always easy either. When you accept Jesus as your Savior, things often get harder. Why? Because before you knew Christ, you weren’t a target for the enemy. We aren’t called to an easy life.
The irritation you’re feeling is purposeful—who wants a half-formed pearl? Some of you are already halfway there right now... Your desert journey holds an oasis ahead!
James 1:2-4
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
You are a work in progress, being shaped and refined into completeness.
2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying,
‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’
He didn’t make it easy for her, and life isn’t always easy either. When you accept Jesus as your Savior, things often get harder. Why? Because before you knew Christ, you weren’t a target for the enemy. We aren’t called to an easy life.
The irritation you’re feeling is purposeful—who wants a half-formed pearl? Some of you are already halfway there right now... Your desert journey holds an oasis ahead!
James 1:2-4
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
You are a work in progress, being shaped and refined into completeness.
Irritation always serves a purpose!
What is God trying to teach me through my irritation? What is He shaping in me that will endure until the end?
David’s time as a shepherd, fighting off lions and bears, was more than just protecting sheep—it was God preparing him for the greater battle with Goliath. Those seemingly small struggles built his trust in God, shaping his faith and courage so that when the giant came, he was ready. Similarly, the challenges we face now are preparing us for what lies ahead, shaping us into who God intends us to be.
God has a pearl in the making—He’s shaping it, just like He shaped Esther "for such a time as this." Keep going; the purpose behind the irritation is forming something beautiful.
- Jonah: irritated by a fish.
- Nehemiah: irritated by the broken walls of Jerusalem.
- Esther: irritated by the fate of her people.
What is God trying to teach me through my irritation? What is He shaping in me that will endure until the end?
- Work: Maybe you’re feeling overlooked.
- Family: Being a parent through tough times—college stress, kids’ grades, relationships.
- School: Bullying, feeling out of place, the distance created by social media, or struggles with mental health.
David’s time as a shepherd, fighting off lions and bears, was more than just protecting sheep—it was God preparing him for the greater battle with Goliath. Those seemingly small struggles built his trust in God, shaping his faith and courage so that when the giant came, he was ready. Similarly, the challenges we face now are preparing us for what lies ahead, shaping us into who God intends us to be.
God has a pearl in the making—He’s shaping it, just like He shaped Esther "for such a time as this." Keep going; the purpose behind the irritation is forming something beautiful.
Enduring Love Will Meet All Needs
Luke 18:6-8
6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.
Her pearl was justice! What are you seeking?
The irritation you feel is shaping you, like a pearl in the making.
One thing that should irritate all CHRISTIANS, whatever Irritates God!
2 Peter 3:11-18
11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. 14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. 15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him— 16 speaking of these things in all of his letters.
Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.
Peter’s Final Words
17 You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.
18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.
Where is God allowing irritation to refine you?
What are you persevering through?
Remember, "Love perseveres all things."
6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.
Her pearl was justice! What are you seeking?
The irritation you feel is shaping you, like a pearl in the making.
One thing that should irritate all CHRISTIANS, whatever Irritates God!
2 Peter 3:11-18
11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. 14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. 15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him— 16 speaking of these things in all of his letters.
Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.
Peter’s Final Words
17 You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.
18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.
Where is God allowing irritation to refine you?
What are you persevering through?
Remember, "Love perseveres all things."
NEXT STEP: This week don’t work on perseverance, don’t think you have to endure, just love like Jesus and you will. That’s Why Love Never Fails
Are you feeling irritated? Why Not?
What irritates God should also irritate us!
The love of God in us should fuel our response.
Remember when Peter stood by Jesus in the garden, just before they came to arrest Him? Peter saw the frustration on Jesus’ face and, in his irritation, he swung a sword to fight back.
Are you attacking the things that irritate God? Why?
Does He live in you?
Make that public confession of faith in Christ, and let His love transform you.
What irritates God should also irritate us!
The love of God in us should fuel our response.
Remember when Peter stood by Jesus in the garden, just before they came to arrest Him? Peter saw the frustration on Jesus’ face and, in his irritation, he swung a sword to fight back.
Are you attacking the things that irritate God? Why?
Does He live in you?
Make that public confession of faith in Christ, and let His love transform you.
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