And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1Co 13:13 NIV)

When faith sees what it has believed it supersedes being faith. Hope is transcended when that what was hoped for is realized and fulfilled. Love however remains an essential component of eternal life, which stays forever amongst those, who have been gifted with its joys and pleasures. It does not fade in the valley of death nor does it diminish at the sight of the living God. Rather it is God’s own image in the beholder and in it we once again find the restoration of all that sin and evil stole, hid and destroyed in ages gone by. That’s the magnificence and permanence of love. If the Apostle Paul calls love greater than the other divine gifts and if he admonishes us in the next chapter and verse to follow the way of love (1Co 14:1 NIV), then we wholeheartedly concur with him, jump up from our lazy seats and continue to pursue the ways of love until we have attained its completion in triumph and victory.

O Lord, let us recognize true love and from your abundance grant it in richest measure to us by your wonderful mercy. That love which you have allowed to be born and come to fruition in our hearts, fulfil within us, but only in your time and eternally. O Lord, let us reach there finally and at last let us be satisfied and fulfilled by your love. Amen. (B. Albrecht)

O highest joy by mortals won, True Son of God and Mary’s Son, Thou high-born King of ages! Thou art my heart’s most beauteous Flow’r, And Thy blest Gospel’s saving pow’r My raptured soul engages. Thou mine, I Thine; Sing hosanna! Heav’nly manna Tasting, eating, Whilst Thy love in songs repeating.

Now richly to my waiting heart, O Thou, my God, deign to impart The grace of love undying. In Thy blest body let me be, E’en as the branch is in the tree, Thy life my life supplying. Sighing, Crying. For the savor Of Thy favor; Resting never, Till I rest in Thee forever.

Oh, joy to know that Thou, my Friend, Art Lord, Beginning without end, The First and Last, Eternal! And Thou at length–O glorious grace!– Wilt take me to that holy place,The home of joys supernal. Amen, Amen! Come and meet me! Quickly greet me! With deep yearning, Lord, I look for Thy returning. (Phillip Nicolai, 1556-1608 translated by Catharine Winkworth)

Translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Thursday after the Sunday Estomihi (Last Sunday before Lent) as found on Pg. 114 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and puplished in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.