Twin City church of Christ Blog
“May 7, 2024 - The More Excellent Way”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsThe More Excellent Way
Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-7
As the Corinthians clash and divide over the spiritual gifts they have received, Paul proposes to “show you a still more excellent way”(1 Cor 12:31). Just as with knowledge (1 Cor 8:1), so spiritual gifts are not the most important part of following Jesus. “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal”(1 Cor 13:1). Speaking with tongues is useless without love. Prophecy and miraculous knowledge and tremendous faith and amazing acts of self-sacrifice are nothing without love (v. 2-3). The Christian life is never simply an intellectual matter, nor is it a matter of huge, dramatic gestures of faith. It is about showing love, consistently and quietly, in everyday interactions.
So Paul spells out what love looks like not by describing a series of emotions, but by the way it acts toward others. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude”(1 Cor 13:4). Love does not view others as threats or rivals. It is not easily frustrated or unkind. When we love people, we let go of selfishness and learn to forgive their slights (v. 5). We do not give up on the people we love simply because they are sometimes difficult or hurtful. “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”(1 Cor 13:7). Love is tender and tough all at once.
We have a similar problem to the Corinthians: we get sidetracked from the key issues in our relationships with others. We get a little too excited about whatever matters to us (knowledge, gifts, accomplishments, respect, attention). Meanwhile, we think that since we don’t actively hate people that we know what love is. Paul challenges us here that love is constantly proven in our interactions with others. Our patience, kindness, compassion, and mercy must be continually demonstrated. This is “a still more excellent way” to live.
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One Thing to Think About: Are there some people I struggle to love? Why?
One Thing to Pray For: A sincere desire to do what is best for others
