LOVE, the essential ingredient to life in the body of Christ. 1 Cor 13
1 Corinthians chapters 12, 13 and 14 is known as the ‘Love sandwich’. Chapters 12 and 14 which talk about the spiritual gifts are the bread but the short chapter in between, 13, is the filling, or we might say the meat(the nourishing, tasty part).
Paul begins(and ends) this part of his message with the pronouncement that ‘love is the most excellent way’.
Moving powerfully in spiritual gifts(we are only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol, using gifts can be noisy!)or making great personal sacrifice without love is meaningless. Love must be the motivation and basis for everything we do as Christian people, after all it was God’s love that sent Jesus to the cross. Spiritual gifts can be powerful and exciting, people are drawn to them as they were to Jesus’ miracles, but using them in a wrong attitude can cause divisions in the church. Paul earlier told the Corinthians that unity in the Body is so vital.
God’s love is ‘Agape Love’, mainly an act of the will. It is sacrificial love, willing to pay any price to care for someone. This is the love that God had for us—that while we were still sinners, God loved us. The reason why so many churches have been divided over charismatic issues is that there has been a lack of agape love. This sort of love can bring people together who may have very different views on the matter. They can choose to love one another despite their different points of view. (David Pawson, direct quote).
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude(does not dishonour others NIVUK), 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. 1 Cor 13:4-8
Paul concludes by telling us that spiritual gifts will pass, they’re only given for a season here on earth, they’re not ours but Love will remain. It’s also significant in the midst of his talk on gifts(revelation etc), Paul says we only know in part, like seeing an image in a mirror. 1 Cor 13:12 May God give us grace and enable us to focus on knowing Him, even more than spiritual gifts.
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