1 Corinthians 13
1–LOVE. Love is patient, kind, does not envy or boast. Love is not arrogant, rude, or self-seeking. Love is not irritable or resentful. Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing but with the truth. Love bears, believes, hopes, and ensures all things. Love NEVER fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Choose to display such love toward your spouse…in the best and worst of times.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth… 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a KJV
God is love (1 John 4:8). Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a and consider how God suffers long, is kind to you…etc.
When we love one another, Jesus says all men will know we are His disciples (John 13:34-35). Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a and consider how you should suffer long, be kind to others…etc.
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John 3:20-21 – For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Many people live with hidden sins. There’s a great sense of fear, terror, and shame drives us to remain silent because we don’t want that part of our lives to be exposed. When we live in this manner however, we allow sin to live and breed in the darkness of our mind, will, and emotions. We allow sin to have its greatest victory over us, where we become its slave (John 8:34; Romans 6:16).
Sometimes we’re so ashamed that we refuse to speak about our sin to the Lord, who knows and sees all (Psalm 44:21, 139:7-12).
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 – Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling 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, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
1 Corinthians 13 is affectionately known in some circles as the ‘Love Chapter.’ Many people have come to describe the characteristics of love through 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. However, I believe it is just as important that we do not miss the importance of having love in our lives when compared to other gifts, abilities, etc. in the world.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul spoke to the Corinthians about the spiritual gifts and the unity of each gift, as they are given by the same Spirit. In closing this section, he stated that he would yet show them a more excellent way (1 Corinthians 12:31).
Across many churches today, people are fascinated with power given specific spiritual gifts. Like Paul exclaimed in 1 Corinthians 12:31, they too covet these gifts. We keep such individuals in high regards and places of authority and honor. However…
James 5:13-17 – Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
This entry is to highlight a highly used verse concerning prayer. James 5:16 will be addressed, but verses 13-17 were provided for context.
Many of us have heard this verse quoted many different ways. Somehow after listening to it or reading it, many people will seek to pray longer and harder without any thought of their lifestyle before God. It’s as if they read the verse like this:
Fervent prayer availeth much.
Jesus tells a parable about a pasture land that is given to the sheep that follow Him (John 10:1-18). This peaceful pasture land is given through the gift of eternal life. The sheep represent those the Lord has called by name, loved, and cared for. Jesus said that the sheep know His voice and follow Him (into eternal life) – a stranger they will not follow (John 10:3-5).
Many people want to know how to hear God’s voice. However, the BIGGER desire (or question) must be to KNOW His voice. God speaks to us all (even before believing in Jesus)…and so does the devil (and our own lust). The issue is to recognize God’s voice above all others, so that when He speaks, you know it is the Lord.
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