March 23, 2006
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
Ron Musch, Lighthouse Regional Church (Concord)
It is my desire that today, through some reflective questions, this passage might be used by the Spirit of the Lord to minister to you. I hope you will see how much you are loved by your Father in heaven, and to walk more deeply in His love for others.
Have you read the passage? Good. Now let me ask you this; are you patient? As you more fully understand how patient God is towards you it will produce a freedom in you to begin to be patient to others. I invite you to pray this prayer, “Father, forgive me for the lack of patience I have displayed to (name). I ask you to show me how patient you are towards me, then help me to reflect your patient love to others. Thank you, Amen.”
Take some time to reflect on His patience towards you. Once you begin to understand that you have been loved in this way, then you are set free to begin to love others the same way.
Are you kind? If not, is it that you have not fully understood the kindness of God to you? Are you jealous of what others have? Is it because you doubt how deeply the Father desires to give all good things to you? Continue to read this passage asking similar questions and praying that the Lord will reveal to you how deeply he loves you.
I invite to do another simple exercise. Since 1 John 4:8 states that God is love, insert the name of God every place the word love appears. You may want to do this three times. The first time I invite you to do so using the phrase “The Father in Heaven”, the second time “Jesus” and third time “The Holy Spirit”. For example; starting in verse 4, “The Father in heaven is patient towards me.” Take a moment and think about that…wow, even when we do not deserve such patience. It is really true! Now do that with the whole passage.
The exercise does not really work with “… love is not jealous and does not brag…”, without some deeper explanations, but you will get the idea. Suffice it to say that the sense of jealous and brag in this passage are self-centered and self-promoting, whereas God’s jealously over you desires your best and that He brags about you as a parent would their child, and in that you can take great delight.
May the Spirit of Truth set you free to know His love and to be empowered to love others.