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True love1 Corinthians 13The greatestTRUE LOVE One of the sad truths of Christian experience is that many of us have been extremely hurt by others, not as a result of persecution in the world, but because of conflicts within our own church families. So a book that helps us to consider how we can love one another better is a valuable resource. This little book is a meditation on 1 Corinthians 13, a chapter we know well but neglect in practice. James Renihan asks us to seriously examine our behaviour, but he is careful to avoid the twin dangers of overwhelming us by our failure or encouraging us in a legalistic effort to live out the Christian life. Throughout the exhortations there is comfort in repentance and hope of empowerment by God’s gracious Holy Spirit. The author has a particular warning for those of us who hold firmly to the Reformed faith, priding ourselves on our understanding of the truth, but being in danger of having a triumphant spirit and a cold orthodoxy. Whether we can speak in tongues, prophesy with all knowledge, have amazing faith, care for the poor, give up even our lives counts as nothing without love, which is summarised powerfully by Renihan in the simple equation 5 Ð 1 = 0. There is a strong challenge here: how often do we value our various ministries and gifts, but forget the way of love? Each chapter is short, providing helpful meditations on every verse, so we can consider the way of love, learning what it means to love, as well as explaining what love is not. The chapters are short enough to be used during quiet times. It should be read prayerfully, allowing each truth to really sink in and challenge us. We have often allowed this little chapter of the Bible to be treated as just pleasant poetry read at weddings, but this book helps us see that 1 Corinthians 13 is important. After all, Paul wrote in Romans 13.8: ‘Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another’. We can never love enough. Karen Soole,
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