Monday, July 14, 2008

A More Excellent Way to Love

Monday, July 14, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:31 & 13:1–3
But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Background: Paul’s (AD 55) answer to the Corinthian Church about the most important spiritual gift ends with an intriguing ‘more excellent way.’
How does ‘have not love,’ render the use of your spiritual gift? Not having love makes you (or your gift) noise, nobody, and profitless.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:31 & 13:4–7
But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

How does having love change your use of spiritual gifts? Your spiritual gifts become God’s Body-building way, molding you and your interaction with others into a reflection of Christ.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:31 & 13:8–10
But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

How is love different from spiritual gifts? God is love: love is perfection. Spiritual gifts are limited and fleeting; they evaporate into our future perfection.

Thursday, July 17, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:31 & 13:11–12
But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

How is the way of love analogous to growth? Putting on love is the evidence of God’s actions in your spiritual growth. This is growth of hope in the knowledge of eternity.

Friday, July 18, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:31 & 13:13
But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

How is love the greatest? Faith is based on Christ’s finished work of love; hope is built on His resurrection from the dead. Both are only needed till we see Him.
Love for us is why He did this: shouldn’t we love Him in return?

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