Tag: love the greatest
Love never fails!
Scripture reading for July 23rd: 1st Corinthians 13
Paul had explained the various gifts of the Holy Spirit and how God distributed them to each person as He desired in order to help the believers. As wonderful as these gifts were, Paul emphasized the need to allow the love of God to saturate each person as a foundation for proper exercise of the gifts.
“And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (1st Corinthians 12:31-13:3) The Corinthians were actively using the gifts but some had gotten prideful concerning how God was using them. They lacked the love that made their gifts ‘excellent’.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1st Corinthians 13:4-8) Paul gently instructed the Corinthians and us about the way of love. Pride and arrogance block God’s excellent way of love. Anger and rudeness stop the common good that should result from God’s gifts in operation. The way of love protects and trusts and hopes for God’s best. In the end, love never fails to produce the ‘excellent way’!
The way of Love
Scripture reading for November 24th: 1st Corinthians 11-14
God gives each person gifts through the Holy Spirit that are to be used to build up the body of Christ. (1st Corinthians 12:7) These gifts may be characterized in three general categories. There are those gifts that impart knowledge–word of wisdom, word of knowledge and prophesy. Other gifts are used to do something: gifts of healing, miraculous powers, and faith. Another type of gift is used to reveal something: discerning of spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. These gifts are given by the Lord through the Holy Spirit as He determines they are needed. (1st Corinthians 12:11)
In addition to these manifestations of the Spirit, God has also appointed different offices to help with the work of ministry. Some are apostles, sent to evangelize and plant churches. Others are prophets and teachers who equip the body for ministry. Others work miracles and facilitate divine healing. Others may be good at administration and management. Still others speak in tongues and others interpret. (1st Corinthians 12:28-31) God places these gift-people in the body just as He sees fit! (1st Corinthians 12:18)
We are all encouraged to eagerly desire the greater gifts! But Paul cites the most excellent pursuit as the way of love! (1st Corinthians 13) We can have any number of the gifts, but without love they are empty and useless. Love is the vital ingredient because the gifts must be used with love and compassion. God’s heart is to love and heal, not just to do something! God Himself is love! He is patient and kind with us. He is not easily angered, but is always ready to forgive. He forgives and never keeps a record of the wrongs done ! He delights in truth and righteousness. His love never fails!
He encourages us to love like He does. Love is the greatest gift that we can ever have and give! We must first follow the way of love and then desire the gifts. (1st Corinthians 14:1) Take time today to check your heart. Are you following the way of love? How’s your love life with God? Are you taking time to love Him and allowing His love to flow through you? Invite the Holy Spirit to release a fresh ability to love others in your heart today.