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:
“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.”
1 Corinthians 13:3
In the previous two devotions, we began our journey into 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. This week, we will continue to dive deep into this passage and seek to discern Biblical love. 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).
Reread our focal passage once more. “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.” This verse begins with an ultimate sacrifice – sacrificing everything that one has, even his/her very life, for the benefit of others. WOW!! Now, self-sacrifice must equal love!! Right?!!? WRONG!! God says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). My Friend, we must understand that God does not operate according to man’s wisdom and/or rationale. Just because we may define love a certain way does not mean we truly “love others as Christ loves us.” Certainly, Christ Jesus gave His very life for us but His sacrifice was a result of His pure, intimate relationship with the Lord God and His complete obedience to God’s will for Him and for all mankind. Christ Jesus did not just “come up with a good idea” and run with it!! NO!! Christ Jesus submitted to the very will of the Father and did only as HE commanded. Christ died on that cross TO GLORIFY HIS FATHER!!! The salvation of sinners came as a result of the Father’s will and Christ Jesus’ obedience (Luke 2:49; John 9:4; John 4:34; Psalm 40:7-8; John 6:38; John 5:19).
As I studied this portion of Scripture, I was struck by how this truth contradicts the belief that our salvation is obtained through our good works. God’s Word is the absolute authority so we must live our lives in accordance to God’s established design. God’s Word is His very breath given to us to teach us, guide us, and save us!! (“All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the a man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV). If our “works” do not save us, then what does?? Let’s jump into Scripture to find the answer to that question.
God’s Word tells us that “…we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:7-8). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Our focal passage tells us that when we try to “love” outside of God’s established design “it profits us nothing.” What does this mean for us today? My Friend, God’s Word clearly identifies what Biblical love is. We will continue studying that next week as we journey through 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. God is so gracious to teach us exactly what we need to know to glorify Him. When we love others the way HE has designed, then HE is revealed to that person(s) and they begin to see glimpses of Christ through our service. If we step outside of God’s established design, then our works of service glorify us and all our deeds are in vain. Nothing we do will matter in eternity if they were done for any other reason than to glorify the Lord God. Those acts, as self-sacrificing or loving as they may appear, will not be counted as righteousness. When we love others as Christ loves us, then we will mirror the very obedience that Christ modeled for us. Christ gave His life for sinners because that was the will of God and that alone brought glory to God. Who do you glorify when you love others?
