Focal Passage for 2010:
“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV)
Weekly Passage:
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up” 1 Corinthians 13:4
As we continue our journey into 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, we will focus our time this week on a portion of 1 Corinthians 13:4. Our focus this year has been, and continues to be, learning to love others as Christ loves us. As I have shared before, my definition of love differs from God’s definition of love. God is teaching me that HE is the authority on all things. In light of that truth, if my definition is different than His, my definition is wrong!! “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29).
A few weeks ago, we began cleaning out our entire house. We went through every box, every portion of storage, every drawer, every cabinet, and every closet. We left no “stone unturned.” Our goal was to rid our home of things that were cluttering up the area(s) we needed to be clear in order to function appropriately. I don’t know about you, but for me, if my home is out of order, I do not function well. I begin to feel overwhelmed and chaos seems to settle into a once peaceful environment. After a long couple of weeks of cleaning, our home is now clutter-free and it feels so refreshing!! Why did I share this with you this morning!?!? Because this is exactly what the Lord God is doing in my spiritual life as well!!! As I was talking with a dear friend and mentor, I began to laugh and say, “You know, God is so funny!!! HE has given me such a wonderful visual of His work in my life!!!”
My Friend, God desires to clean out every portion of your heart, life, and soul as well. HE knows exactly what you have “stored” away and what sinful attitudes, thoughts, desires, ambitions, and motives you have tucked neatly (and sometimes not so neatly) in the recesses of your heart. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12-13).
Part of God’s cleansing is the renewing of our minds with the truth of His Word. (“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2) The world system has its own definition of love. The world’s love is selfish, earthbound, and conditional. In order for us to love in a way that honors the Lord God and edifies those around us, we must dive deep into God’s Word to learn exactly how God established for His children to love. So what does Biblical love look like??
Turn to 1 John 4:7-11 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that HE loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” Reread our focal passage…“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up” 1 Corinthians 13:4. We have reached the portion of Scripture that really houses the “meat” of what Biblical love is. Over the next few weeks, we will study each portion of this passage in order to gain the most life application.
“Love suffers long and is kind…” “…Paul chose a relatively rare Greek word for his definitive passage on love. The word, agape, describes a love that is based on the deliberate choice of the one who loves rather than the worthiness of the one who is loved. This kind of love goes against natural human inclination. It is a giving, selfless, expect-nothing-in-return kind of love” (Nelson Study Bible, p. 1933). I LOVE this portion of Scripture because when we look closely we see the very image of Jesus Christ our Lord!! Jesus Christ is our Example!! HE is our Model!! In Christ, we lack nothing. In and of ourselves, we are unable to love as Christ loves us but in Philippians 4:13, God’s Word promises that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” WOW!!! That is a precious, powerful, and absolutely unchanging promise from the Lord God!!!!!
What does it mean to be “long suffering?” Long suffering is actually patience. How can we exhibit patience in our relationships with others in a way that honors the Lord, exemplifies Christ and points others to the cross? The answer is really learning to DIE TO SELF!!! When we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we are no longer our own. We have been bought with a price. We are to live and love in a way that mirrors Christ. How did Christ live and love? Christ came to Earth to accomplish the Father’s will. That will included sacrificing glory for humanness and obedience even to death. Christ loves us with a selfless, unconditional, and purposeful love. This was best illustrated on the cross!!! “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). When Christ hung on the tree, HE exhibited the ultimate selfless love!! HE willingly gave up what was rightfully His in order to pay our sin debt and enable us to come before a Holy God as a holy, blameless, spotless, pure, and whole vessel. We are no longer under God’s wrath but wrapped in His love and forgiveness!!! Praise You, Jesus!!!
In order for us to love others the way Christ loves us, we must learn to put aside our “rights” and serve others in a way that benefits them. What benefits mankind most?? The greatest blessing we can offer another person is the truth of the Gospel. Sharing the Gospel is vital but we cannot neglect to put the Gospel in action as well. What are some practical ways we can put the Gospel into action?
• Loving others unconditionally…Even when they are hard to love
• Not holding onto hurts but forgiving those who hurt us, even if they do not ask, want, or deserve our forgiveness
• Not keeping a record of wrongs
• Speaking truth in love, even if/when that person(s) rejects us
• Holding one another accountable to God’s Word
• Not being easily offended
My Friend, how do you exhibit the patience of Christ in your life?
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