Happy "Love Chapter" Saturday, Everyone!
Ah, the famous Love Chapter is this week's Sunday School lesson.
Exactly what IS a tinkling cymbal? Most cymbals "I know" are quit loud! Paul's great chapter on love comes after a lengthy discussion about spiritual gifts. It seems that some gifts were considered more important than others and I'm fairly sure that it probably depended on who had what gift too. I'm talking about the "bossy" gift owner. Tongues and speaking in tongues has been a controversial gift since Pentecost and is still today and Paul needed to set the record straight; talking in tongues is NOT everybody's thing. Just like teaching isn't everybody's thing. Just like brain surgery isn't everybody's thing - thank goodness!
In 1Corinthians 13:1-13 we get schooled by Paul on what is really, truly important, and he names his top three; faith, hope and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. A famous saying in my line of business (communications, transmission, distribution) is "you should learn something every day." Well, I also believe you should grow in faith, hope and love everyday, as well. Our faith as Christians should be getting stronger instead of weaker. I'm seeing Christians losing their faith because someone persuaded them that there is no God. I'm seeing Christians losing hope because of the terrible condition our world is in because of sin and unbelief. I'm seeing hatred growing and the sanctity of life along with the value of life of little or no importance to more and more people. Dear friends, Paul encourages us in this chapter to push forward while at the same time; wait on the Lord. 1 Cor. 13:9-13
Now we know only a little, and even the gift of prophecy reveals little! [10] But when the end comes, these special gifts will all disappear.
[11] It's like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. [12] Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.
[13] There are three things that will endure—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
Sooooooooooooooooooooo, stick it out! The tangibles will someday fade away or be destroyed in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The important things in the life of a true believer are the spiritual things. How many times have you heard that we are to send our treasures ahead of us? Well, that's because if we leave them here on earth, they will be burned up in the end. But the treasures we send ahead will be waiting for us in heaven. A saying that is almost preached too much is that "we never saw a hearse pulling a U-haul." That's because the physical stays behind and the love we show and share moves ahead. Today is my one and only grandson's 2nd birthday party. Because of him there has been a new chapter written in my life's book of people to love. He brought me and my family new feelings and new passion. Seeing him grow gives me faith in my Savior, hope for the future, and a deep growing love for a new soul that I never knew before. God is good my friends. Go out this week and show that you will not be persuaded by the world. Go out and demonstrate your faith, your hope, and most importantly...your love. Amen! See you in Sunday School.
