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And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these [is] love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV
In 1 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul listed for the Christians in Corinth the many spiritual gifts God had given to individuals in the church. He then ends the chapter with these words: “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way” (v. 31).
Paul then went on to tell Corinthians that they could put all their spiritual gifts into action, but it wouldn’t mean anything if they weren’t motivated by love—agape love, an unconditional love that is very much like the love God pours out on His people.
Here is what Paul wrote about agape love:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
This is an amazing picture of real love, isn’t it? It’s the kind of love God pours out on you every day, and it’s the kind of love. He wants you to show to everyone He’s placed in your life. That really is the “most excellent way.”
Prayer: Loving heavenly Father, help me to walk every day in the most excellent way.
In 1 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul listed for the Christians in Corinth the many spiritual gifts God had given to individuals in the church. He then ends the chapter with these words: “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way” (v. 31).
Paul then went on to tell Corinthians that they could put all their spiritual gifts into action, but it wouldn’t mean anything if they weren’t motivated by love—agape love, an unconditional love that is very much like the love God pours out on His people.
Here is what Paul wrote about agape love:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
This is an amazing picture of real love, isn’t it? It’s the kind of love God pours out on you every day, and it’s the kind of love. He wants you to show to everyone He’s placed in your life. That really is the “most excellent way.”
Prayer: Loving heavenly Father, help me to walk every day in the most excellent way.
