Universal Utterings

for September 16, 2026

A Godcast

UniversalUtterings.Com

09-16-2026 1 Corinthians 12&13 v31/0113 The Greatest Of These is Love

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The 1st Letter to the Cor Ch 12 Verse 1214 thru 2731

31 Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. 1 If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, 5 it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, 6 it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing. 9 For we know partially and we prophesy partially, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things. 12 At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. 13 So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 is often referred to as the "Love Chapter" of the Bible, and it serves as a profound reminder of the essence of love in the life of a believer. As followers of Christ, we are called to embody a love that is patient, kind, and free from jealousy and rudeness. When we surrender to Christ as our Savior, our lives are transformed, and we are empowered to reflect His love in our actions and interactions with others.

Paul underscores the importance of love by emphasizing that even the most extraordinary gifts or acts, such as speaking in tongues or prophesying, hold no value without love. In our journey of faith, we must strive to let love guide our choices and behaviors. This means being patient with those around us, being kind even in challenging circumstances, and avoiding jealousy or rudeness that can sow discord among us.

Furthermore, Paul reminds us that as we grow in faith, we must set aside our childish ways and embrace the maturity that comes from a deeper understanding of God’s love. “When I was a child, I spoke like a child,” he writes, but upon growing up, he left behind those unrefined behaviors. Our faith should lead us to grow and develop, leaving behind insecurities and the desire for selfish gain.

Ultimately, as we await the return of Christ, we are assured that "when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away." Love remains the greatest of all virtues, transcending even faith and hope. Let us be intentional in cultivating this kind of love, reflecting Christ to the world around us. Amen.

Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer.

At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.

I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen Son in Law Mark Stern; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. We pray for Holy Mother Church. Our prayers for our niece Brittany. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.

I am a poet obedient to Christ,


Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins


†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®


Ephesians 6:17-20

09-16-2026 1 Corinthians 12&13 v31/0113

The Greatest Of These is Love

In the heart of love, let words take flight, 

Though I speak of tongues, in day or night, 

Without the love that knows no end, 

Like clashing cymbals, I cannot mend. 

If knowledge I possess, and faith so strong, 

To move the mountains, my heart feels wrong, 

For without love's embrace, a hollow sound, 

In the depths of my soul, I cannot be found. 

Love is patient, love’s kind and true, 

In humble whispers, it guides us through, 

It bears all burdens, hopes all things, 

In trials and triumphs, its comfort it brings. 

No envy or pride, nor wrath does it yield, 

In the garden of hearts, it’s the harvest field, 

For when we are blinded by ego’s night, 

Love opens our eyes, reveals the light. 

The gifts may falter, prophecies cease, 

But love remains, our eternal peace, 

As children, we spoke, as children, we knew, 

Yet love matures, and our vision too. 

Now faith, hope, and love, these three shall stand, 

But the greatest of these, love’s outstretched hand, 

Through timeless ages, its truth will abide, 

In love we are whole, in love, we confide. 

So let this commandment, within us ignite, 

To love one another, to shine forth the light, 

For in every moment, whether near or afar, 

Love’s gentle whisper, is our guiding star. Amen.

© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins

September 16, 2026 @ 04:44 AM EST

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