The greatest of these
Day 601, Saturday, April 4
1 Corinthians 12:31 – 13:13
Chapter 13 is the best-known part of 1 Corinthians with its discussion of love. It is frequently used in wedding ceremonies, but is really not about romantic or even familial love at all. The love spoken of in 1 Corinthians 13 is the love that God intends to prevail inside the church and that Christians should radiate to the world. The chapter’s placement after conversations about divisions within the church is not coincidental.
In the chapter, Paul speaks of several of the spiritual gifts that have led to dissension or jealousy: tongues, prophecy, wisdom and knowledge. Even if we have these in abundance, without love they are nothing. “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”
The words here portray love as something active, deliberate and humble. It is patient and kind. It protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres.
And Paul also speaks of what love is not. It is not envious, boastful or proud. It doesn’t dishonor, it is not self-seeking, is not easily angered and does not keep a record of wrongs.
Imagine how this is received by a church that has been torn apart by division, envy and pride. Paul isn’t writing this as a lighthearted, happy reading intended to bring cheer, but as a sharp rebuke for how far they have strayed from what God calls them (and us) to be.
Most of the spiritual gifts, no matter how valuable or desirable, will pass away. “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
-Rev. Mark Fleming
Saturday meditation
Psalms 105:26-45
He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen. They performed his signs among them, his wonders in the land of Ham. He sent darkness and made the land dark—for had they not rebelled against his words? He turned their waters into blood, causing their fish to die. Their land teemed with frogs, which went up into the bedrooms of their rulers. He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country. He turned their rain into hail, with lightning throughout their land; he struck down their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their country. He spoke, and the locusts came, grasshoppers without number; they ate up every green thing in their land, ate up the produce of their soil. Then he struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their manhood. He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold, and from among their tribes no one faltered. Egypt was glad when they left, because dread of Israel had fallen on them.
He spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night. They asked, and he brought them quail; he fed them well with the bread of heaven. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert.
For he remembered his holy promise given to his servant Abraham. He brought out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy; he gave them the lands of the nations, and they fell heir to what others had toiled for—that they might keep his precepts and observe his laws.
Prayer focus
Lord, perfect us in love.