LOVE NEVER FAILS
Today’s Reading: 1 Corinthians 12-13
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
In the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth many artifacts are on display. This is the Marble head of Dionysos, 2nd century A.D.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 12:31
But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
The “MORE EXCELLENT WAY” is LOVE! From 13:1 to 14:1 “LOVE” is found 10 times. It is appropriate that both chapters, 12 & 13, are included in today’s reading, for they are usually read in exclusion one from the other and sadly also in opposition one from the other. We should make sure that we do not stress the gifts of chapter 12 while failing to emphasize the love of chapter 13, or stressing the love of chapter 13 and ignoring the gifts of chapter 12. God has given the gifts of the Spirit to His people, and He expects them to be used to show love to one another. God’s love manifested through us is also only possible through the work of the Holy Spirit. A gift is not an indication of spiritual maturity, but love, a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), is an indication of the growth in Christ of the believer. We give gifts to our children, not because of their conduct, but because we love them. If we based our gifts on good behaviour, our children would earn them and therefore, they would not be gifts. The Corinthians did not exhibit the best behaviour, but God still gave them gifts. Let us “desire spiritual gifts” (14:1), and use these gifts in “A MORE EXCELLENT WAY,” exhibiting the LOVE described in chapter 13!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, I recognize that Your character is described in chapter 13. Live and love through me, Lord Jesus, I pray. Thank You for the gifts You give to build up Your Church, to exhort me to seek the good of others, and to comfort others. I gladly receive and desire to exercise all these gifts. In Your Name, Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Before I became an ordained minister, I taught public school. I was so impressed with 1 Corinthians 13 that I required my students to memorize all 13 verses. I had read that many scholars considered the King James translation of these words to be the most beautiful in the entire English language. Of course they were written originally in Greek and translated by those assigned the task by King James during the first years of the 1600’s. I see chapters 12 to 14 as a sandwich in which 13 is the meat and 12 & 14 are two slices of bread above and below the meat. To be well-nourished spiritually, we need to eat the whole sandwich. As a child during our meal, I remember leaving the table, riding my little scooter into the living room and depositing my crusts behind the couch. That practise ended abruptly when the remnants of the bread were discovered. I must confess that I went through a period in my Christian life when I did not want to partake of what may have seemed like the bread crusts of the gifts of the Spirit, particularly the speaking gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues. One of my theological professors gave the interpretation to a message in tongues, and the thoughts that came immediately to me were the same as his words. After the church service concluded, the teacher, Rev. Gordon Atter, came to me and reprimanded me. He said, “David, God gave you that interpretation and you disobeyed God in not giving it. Because you failed, I had to give it for the proper exercise of this gift in a public meeting.” As far as I know, I’ve not made that mistake since.
Yours for yielding to the love of Father God, shown in the life of Jesus Christ, and implemented by the Holy Spirit,
David
Statue of the god Serapis found in ancient Corinth. There were two precincts dedicated to this god on the Akrokorinth (the Acropolis) of the city. Serapis was worshiped throughout the Mediterranean basin; his worship seemed to transcend ethnic boundaries and earned him reverence in the Egyptian, Greek and Roman cultures.
A Christian artifact from the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth.
Help us to be vessels of Love to be used I the body of Christ and be ready for the Bridesgoom to return in Jesus name Amen
Amen Amen
David(100words team), I am sure I speak for so many when I say, your teaching is appreciated as the Holy Spirit speaks clearly through your fresh bread!
Thank you for being a willing vessel!
The NIV translation has a little “sandwich” to offer those who are putting verses to memory.
A LOVE SANDWICH -PTHP
Protects
trusts
hopes
Perseveres
1Corinthians 13:7
Blessings brothers and sisters in Christ!
Dear David, thank you so much for your grnuineness as you share your victories and struggles of the fait in this blog, I so appreciate it! Love reading along with you!
Blessings to all here in Toronto on this brrrrr morning.
I had to learn The Love chapter when young too and it is precious to the soul.
Thank you Pastor David for sharing your thoughts and life learnings with us each day.
Paul brought such love and hope to his fellow believers. With so much news of trouble and strife in the world these days, I pray people would discipline themselves into accepting God’s love and honouring his values.
“Father, I want to stand for You when persecution
comes as Daniel did. Give me that same bold
commitment to pray and not to be ashamed of
knowing You. Help me to live my faith publicly.”
Just a Closer Walk With Thee [Live]: http://youtu.be/KStZ40DlOQc
…enjoyed this version. thnx for posting it Lynda
Yes, thank you David and family for your faithfulness in producing this Fresh Bread each and every day. It has truly been a blessing to me as The Holy Spirit of God works through you – bringing meaningful interpretation that we can apply to our daily walk…
Have a blessed day blog friends. Amen!
Amen! Good thoughts to ponder on love and the gifts. Keeping up all the reading but have been busy removing snow and suffering afterwards in my sleep but God is gracious and faithful to restore. God bless you saints!
At our wedding more then 34 years ago we had someone who was trained as an opera singer sing i Corinthians 13 at our wedding. And yes! chapters 12 and 13 go well together
we also used this scripture for our wedding in 1990…R…
Great illustration of the three chapters; being a sandwich and we need to eat the whole!! HOW TRUE!! Thank you Pastor David. and I joined with you in prayer…what a blessing…and a desire!!
It took many years to truly open up fully to God’s love…but He is faithful and never gives up on us…Thank you Jesus, You have continued to chip away at the stone wall of my heart…and You never faithful to accomplish that which You have begun. Praise Your Holy Name!!!
God bless you Irene for your honesty! You never know who is reading these blogs and PRESTO they see something that may reflect their hearts but were not comfortable saying anything…and here you go and you will be greatly blessed for being upfront and honest….
Pretty sure “Paul” would enjoy this:-)
1 Corinthians 13 song: http://youtu.be/tbnJRbj_Vcw
Hi David Mainse,
I appreciate greatly your honesty about the crusts of bread you hid as a child and relating it to the spiritual “crusts of bread”, and the interpretation you were confronted about not giving. This teaching hit home very hard when I read it a couple of days ago and I want to thank you for sharing it. I’m interested to see where God takes this, because when the Holy Spirit highlights something that strongly to me, it’s usually a really big deal. God bless you.