PASTOR’S CORNER, Phillip Dow, New Beginnings Church, Liberal
There’s a deep peace that comes when you know what truly lasts. In 1 Corinthians 13:8–11, the apostle Paul cuts through the noise of human achievement and spiritual gifts to remind us: “Love never fails.” That statement isn’t sentimental—it’s rock-solid truth in a world that’s constantly shifting beneath our feet.
As Pastor in the Assemblies of God (a Pentecostal movement), I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit. I’ve seen God heal bodies, deliver the bound, and give words of knowledge that only He could know. I treasure those gifts. But Paul reminds us in this passage that even the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge will one day come to an end. Why? Because they are temporary tools, given for a limited time, to help us live faithfully in an incomplete world.
“Where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” (v. 8, NIV) These are not signs of weakness, but markers of God’s wisdom. Spiritual gifts are scaffolding—not the structure itself. They help build us up, but they are not the foundation. Love is. One day, when all who have true faith in the saving power of Jesus Christ, are gathered into Heaven, there will be no need for the prophecy or miracles because we will understand Jesus fully and be fully healed.
“For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.” (vv. 9–10). Think of that: even our most Spirit-empowered moments are partial, like puzzle pieces without the full picture. We live in the “in between”—between what is and what will be. That’s why love matters so deeply. It’s not just an emotion or a spiritual add-on. It is the eternal DNA of God’s kingdom. Love will still be standing when everything else fades.
Paul continues, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” (v. 11). Maturity in Christ means moving from short-term thinking to eternal priorities. We outgrow the need to prove ourselves. We stop building our worth on success or recognition. We stop majoring in the minors. We stop being impressed with ourselves and start being shaped by Christ. And at the center of it all is love.
Let me speak plainly, neighbor to neighbor: What are you building your life on? What will still matter when the applause dies down, the trends shift, and the platforms fade? This week, take a spiritual inventory. Ask the Lord to show you where you’re still clinging to temporary things. Then choose to grow up in love.
Maybe that means having a hard conversation with humility, or serving someone with no expectation of thanks. Maybe it means asking forgiveness from someone you’ve wronged—or extending it when it hasn’t been earned. Maybe it’s choosing to spend less time chasing information and more time practicing compassion.
You can’t take your knowledge, your titles, or even your spiritual gifts with you into eternity. But you can take love. Love for God. Love for people. That’s the legacy worth leaving.Let’s be known—not just as a town with strong opinions—but as a people with strong love. That’s a reputation that echoes forever.
If you need ideas or desire prayer, members of the Liberal Ministerial Alliance stand ready to offer hope and resources to you. If you find yourself in spiritual need and without a home church, I would love for you to come with me to New Beginnings Church.
