Let’s BE Love

I would like to take a moment and reflect on “the love chapter” as many call it, 1 Corinthians 13.  There is much for us to model and learn within the chapter, but first, I’d like to situate the chapter.  1 Corinthians 12 outlines the spiritual gifts and the need for unity. In the chapter we find the significance of the unity of the spirit in v4-7 and then a listing of the gifts: The word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues and interpretation of tongues. We find in v12 the importance of understanding that although we are each members of the Body of Christ, “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many are one body, so also is Christ.  Chapter 14 is about the operationalizing of the gifts and the order of the church in its conduct. Chapter 13, then, is the bridge between receiving Spiritual gifts and using them. In other words, Spiritual gifts used without love are not useful to us and don’t edify God. Perhaps this is why Paul begins the chapter with such a strong voice. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I have become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.” He goes on to mention prophecy, faith, knowledge, and by implication the rest of the gifts, and even socially responsible good deeds like “bestow all my goods to feed the poor,”  but “have not love, it profits me nothing.” To say we belong to Christ and yet act without love is to act outside, or better said, in contradiction to the way God acts. Thus, we cannot use the gifts of the spirit and do so outside of love. Love is the bridge we need to put our gifts in motion in the world and not have our efforts sound like a clanging cymbal; in other words, if we want to make love, not noise, act out of love!!! Love is what God wants from us. To love Him and to love one another. So, in this time of COVID-19 let us remember some of the hallmarks of

1 Corinthians 13.

Love is patient.

Love is kind

Love “does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in truth.”

 Love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

LOVE NEVER FAILS!!!

Let us remember that as we find our footing in this current moment that we have much to believe in and hope for.  And yes, we must endure this change, but in doing so we have an opportunity to give God glory and honor by being love… by being kind to those of us we are cooped up in the house with!! By reaching out often to family and friends. By being patient with others and ourselves.  The chapter ends with one of the most powerful axioms of the Bible: “Now abide faith, hope, love these three; but the greatest of these is love.”  With the love of God in our hearts; with the words of God on our lips; with the wisdom of God in our acts, we shine forth in the love that endures all things and brings light to a shattered, darkened world.   Let your love shine!!!