Christmas Devotions

Love Bears All Things

1 Corinthians 13:1–7

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:7, ESV)

As Christmas approaches, we often focus on joy, peace, and togetherness. But the Apostle Paul reminds us that the kind of love we are called to—Christlike love—is not just warm or seasonal. It’s resilient. It stays through hardship, holds steady in disappointment, and hopes even when the way forward is unclear.

Love that “bears all things” is not weak. It is strong enough to carry burdens, to forgive when it’s difficult, and to keep loving when others cannot or will not return it. This is the love of Christ—a love that knelt to wash feet, that carried a cross, and that still meets us with mercy. Advent invites us to grow in this love, to be patient and kind in all circumstances, and to hold onto hope for others and ourselves.

Picture a candle burning steadily in a drafty room. It’s not the brightest light, but it refuses to go out. Through gusts and shadows, it continues to shine. That’s what enduring love looks like—quiet, faithful, unwavering. It doesn’t need applause, but it makes all the difference.

Prayer:

Jesus, your love is not fickle or fragile—it bears all things and never gives up. Teach me to love like that. Help me to carry others with grace, to believe and hope for what I cannot yet see, and to endure with kindness when love is tested. Make my love more like yours, strong and true. Amen.