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 1 Corinthians 13 - Our Highest Goal is Love

        God knows us completely (Psalm 139).  And yet, He still loves us.  That is love!  Jesus prays for us to share with others how much God loves them (John 17:23).  Just as He loves us, He commands us to love one another (John 13:34).

        When we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit through faith in the Messiah we become new men and women.  I am not yet a perfect man, but I have the Spirit of Christ in me, a foretaste of my eternal body.  We become God’s people.  We become part of the Church, God’s family.  A people characterized by their Source, the Almighty King.  God is love.  As His people, we too will love others with supernatural love.  We even love our enemies and those hostile to the Good News of Christ.  We love because God loves and commands us to do so.

        This chapter provides context and perspective to the teaching of the special abilities God gives us.  It is key to being a Christian man, a dad, a husband, and a servant leader.  I’m ashamed that I don’t know this chapter by heart.  It should be memorized.  It is the picture of who we should be.

        The Holy Spirit is as Mighty today as at Creation.  He moves and speaks and heals and creates and holds and enables and executes and orchestrates.  The Holy Spirit never ceased acting and never will.  We have access to and are now part of God’s Holy Spirit power. He lives in us.  But we must know how good and loving and kind and merciful He is.  And we must act like Him.  Imitate Him.

        Life without love is meaningless.  Special abilities and knowledge without love are useless.

        We gain nothing without love (13:3).  That deserves repeating.  For every bank account, asset, house, university degree - any human achievement - if it has no love then put an asterisk beside it.  It is like a champion who cheated with steroids.  Not a real winner.  It is meaningless unless it comes with loving others.  All we do must be done with love.

        Lord God, please let me know You so that I can know how to love others.  Amen.

        A lot of people talk a big game about caring for the Scriptures, biblical worldview, and Christian values.  But often these same people are rude, angry, power-hungry, and concerned about worldly appearances.  They pretend to love the King.  But it is the trappings of godliness they crave rather than obedience to the King’s commands.

        And this is the King's command: We must love each other.

        It is time we stop playing church.  It is time to stop playing childish world games.  It is time to stand face-to-face with the truth.  We must confront our failures, and repent of our greed, and sin.  And we must follow the living God who knows us completely.

        Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Cor. 13:4-7

        Lord Jesus thank you for your mighty command for your people.  For me.  For all of us.  Amen.

My daughter, Meghan, and her three sons (visiting family in Saskatoon, SK).


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