I Corinthians 13
I’m so thankful for the convicting power of The Scriptures. It is God’s perfect, pure, holy commands, and ways for us. It is meant to change us more and more into His likeness, until we take after our Father. His desire is for us to be a reflection of His image, to bear His image. His Word is purifying and protects us from further sin. To know and obey His Word is to honor Him and bless Him. In living by It we bring honor and blessing to Him, ourselves, our loved ones and our neighbors.
This passage, I Corinthians 13, teaches that in God’s eyes, which is all that ultimately matters, regardless of what I have to offer in this world, without genuine, real love for Him, for the people in my circle, and for others; without a love for what He loves and how He loves…I am nothing.
In this infamous “Love Chapter” when I insert my name in place of the word “love”, OUCH! IT HURTS! When, and where I am in the wrong, the truth hurts. It is painful because it reveals an issue in my heart, my innermost self. I Corinthians 13 (like all of Scripture does) exposes my unkindness, selfishness, discontent, ungentleness, insensitivity, impatience, bitterness or grudges. It exposes where I am disloyal, unsupportive, or discouraging. It exposes my pride. This exercise is a powerful one!
I Corinthians 13:1-3
“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.
I Corinthians 13:4-
Love (insert your name) suffers long/is patient.
___________ is kind.
___________ is not jealous/does not envy.
___________ is not boastful/does not parade itself.
___________ is not arrogant/conceited/puffed up.
I Corinthians 13:5
___________ is not rude/does not behave improperly.
___________ is not self-seeking/selfish.
___________ is not irritable/easily provoked.
___________thinks no evil/does not keep a record of wrongs.
I Corinthians 13:6
___________ does not rejoice in iniquity/does not find joy in unrighteousness,
but ___________ rejoices in the truth;
From I Corinthians 13:7
___________ bears (through) all things/protects/supports.
___________ believes (through) all things/does not lose faith/looks for the best/is loyal
___________hopes (through) all things/remains steadfast/hopeful
___________ endures (through) all things/bears patiently through every circumstance.
I Corinthians 13:8
___________ never fails/fades/falls away/ends.
I Corinthians 13:8-13
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.
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. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
These are not mere words, and heart emojis. Love is a verb, an action word. Love is what we do, how we live, not something we confess or say. Love is manifested in how we behave ourselves day in and day out. It is the significant and insignificant choices we make. It is how we treat people, ALL people. It is how we speak, and the thoughts that we think toward others. Love, or lack of love, exposes the truth of who I am. God says, without love, I am nothing.
Simply growing in grace,
Melissa
II Corinthians 9:8
