Post by Zac Loh on Oct 1, 2010 9:34:59 GMT -5
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1)”
Many don’t know if it is a sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal, when they hear one. Popularity, charisma, eloquence and articulation; we are often caught enamored by these. Thus, we are unable to detect the real motive behind the message. We have switched-off our spiritual sensitivity.
Motive is everything. The motivation of the preacher will move and steer you, knowingly or unknowingly, towards the direction of that motivation was intended for. Motivation can be transmitted very subtly. It affects lives. At times, performance is used to cover-up motive. At times, the preacher has no inkling to his own motive, hidden underneath his surface thoughts.
Are you attracted, entertained, tickled or impressed by appearance? How do you know if it is the love of God? You must sense it in your heart, not by your outward senses.
We need to learn what divine love is, so as not to be confused with human love. Because God is love, His love is in the signature and DNA of all His communications, intentions and purposes.
Without the love of God, we become ineffective for God. We might be effective for the expectations of people; but in God’s sight, we are ineffective.
“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2)”
Divine love is both most simple and most profound. We cannot boast of anything we have or can do. Stripped of everything, love must remain.
At the end of days, how do I remember myself by? Not so much what I have acquired or attained. Not so much what I have achieved or accomplished. But, is the love of God evident in my life? Is the love of God the most prominent feature after I break-down the story of my testimony on earth?
Have you loved? The Lord will say to the faithful servant: “enter into my joy”. Did you love the Master enough to serve Him unselfishly? Nothing will take you further in serving God’s kingdom than the love of God. Nothing will motivate you to go further than the love of God.
Believe me …divine love is the most unselfish thing you can ever experience!
“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:3)”
If love is the most unselfish thing, why do I look to profit myself? In the last verse of this chapter, verse 13, we read that faith, hope, love are connected. Most times, when the word `hope’ appears in the New Testament epistles, it refers to the blessed hope of the eternal future for those who are in Christ.
God rewards eternally those works which are motivated by His love – even if it is unrecognizable to human eyes, even if it can’t be quantified, even it is not appreciated by others. God sees even when no man sees. There is no insignificant act in the eyes of God, which is motivated by His love.
God is love. We as His children, we INHERIT His love. We are identified as His children, we IDENTIFY with His love. As children, we grow-up imitating our Father who is love, we IMITATE His love.
God is love. As such, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 describes the character of God. Verse 8 says love never fails. God never fails.
God is love. God suffers long and is kind. "Father, thank You that you have tolerated my ups and downs and bestowed upon me kindness upon kindness. You suffered my sins, forgave me, redeemed me. I can do nothing to deserve all that. It is by Your grace alone. And now, give us grace to suffer others just as You have suffered because of us. Help us to tolerate with others as as You have tolerated us. Not only that You have tolerated us, You have rebounded with many kindness to us. Help us to not only tolerate, but to give kindness which is beyond tolerance, even to those whom we think don't deserve it."
God is love. God does not envy. "Father, it is unimaginable that you are ever envious at all. You are happy when we are happy. You are blessed when we are blessed. Adam and Eve thought you wanted to take away their opportunity to be happy and to be blessed. Many in this world think the same way. They are deceived by Satan the accuser. Show Your love to them, Father. In Jesus' name, I earnestly pray this. Amen."
God is love. God does not parade Himself, He is not puffed up. "Father, many times You move quietly, unnoticed. You do not crave for credit or acknowledgement from us. You did them because You LOVE us. We thank You so much. We want to take this special time to express our appreciation of You. How you so often did things for our good, behind our backs, when at last we noticed them, we were so grateful. Thank You, Lord, for working constantly on our behalf."
God is love. God does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil. "Father, I repent that I regularly lost my cool on my wife, Su-Leng. My words were too direct without understanding her needs. I was quick to retort and slow to discern. It has become a lifestyle to think from my own perspective and interest. I got impatient and agitated. On occasion, I could think of horrible actions in retaliation, when I am hurt. Father, forgive me, sincerely I ask. But I also thank You that I am gradually getting better. This recent season has been great. I am more tender and my words more comforting. Thank You, again and again."
God is love. God does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. "Father, make us understand this part of Your nature, this part Your character. Help us see from Your perspective, to understand what You understand. Transform us, mold us, so that we will not EVER rejoice in the attraction, in the lure, in the fun - of iniquity. Let us ALWAYS be attracted, be drawn, be pulled - by the truth. In Jesus' name, I ask and pray. Amen."
“Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. (1 Corinthians 13:8)”
God is love. And God is greater than any spiritual gift or revelation. Without His divine love living through us; the operation of a spiritual gift or revelation loses its potential, may end up a mess and be damaging to others; instead of being a blessing.
Every gift and knowledge is to be administered by the love of God. For the love of God is the springboard, the platform, the launching pad, for every good gift.
The first evidence of a restored relationship with God is His love in our heart and the outworking of His love from our heart. The result of this love is ministry.
“For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. (1 Corinthians 13:9-10)”
In heaven, everything will be revealed. We don’t need knowledge and prophecy by then, because everything will be clear to us. The purpose of knowledge is to steer and guide us. The purpose of prophecy is to strengthen our faith and hope. The condition and situation of heaven is such that these become unnecessary.
God fills heaven. He Himself powers heaven. Heaven does not need a sun because the Son will shine at optimal brightness throughout heaven with His eternal spiritual light. His glory lights up heaven. Yes, spiritual light is constantly visible in heaven.
God Himself fills heaven. His presence uninhibited because there isn’t sin and there isn’t fallen nature. His glory is immensely powerful. His very person is enough for heaven. The rest is exceedingly abundantly splendidly exciting and blissful to no end. Yet the rest is mere fringe benefit compare to God Himself who is there in His fullness.
God is love. We will feel His love everywhere in heaven. We will immerse ourselves in His love. There will be no ecstasy here now on earth like it there ...no such experience, not even by believers of Christ in that degree or in that sort of perpetuity.
No hangovers. No hang-ups. Just glorious love in Jesus Christ.
We will more than bask in His love. We will be one with His love. His love will shine into us and out of us, like we are transparent. We will be perfect conduit of His love. We will love one another. His love will be like blood running through our veins. His love will exude through our skin pores, the ointment and aroma of His love.
May we have more of heaven on earth right now in this lifetime, even though we can’t compare or compete with being totally there. May we not only catch a glimpse of heaven. May we not only experience heaven. May we be filled with heaven as much as possible. One day, we will have an immortal body. But today, let us have as much of heaven as we can.
The watermark of heaven is love. The indelible identity of heaven is love. The benchmark of heaven is love. The standard of heaven is love.
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1 Corinthians 13:11)”
The spiritually mature goes after love because love remains. God is love. Love will always remain.
Spiritual gifts and knowledge will pass away. These are love tools. The spiritually mature, by the love of God, will use these to bless people. These are not trophies of achievement or status attained.
1 Corinthians 14:1 says to pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts. This perspective is the perspective of the spiritually mature. He differentiates which is which, which is to be pursued and which is to be desired.
Because you pursue love, you will desire spiritual gifts in order to be a real blessing to people. Spiritual gifts become the means to an end which is love.
Love is the beginning and the end.
“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)”
In prophecy, we look for clues and information about the future. As we grow in God, God Himself becomes our past, present and future. In revelation, we look for keys and cohesiveness of knowledge. As we grow in experiencing God Himself in person, God becomes our key and cohesiveness of knowledge.
For He is the Word, existing eternally, through Whom all entities were created. In heaven, this truth and reality will be full blown. Until then, we grow day by day.
In the here and now, love will be clearer to us as God grows closer to us or rather we grow closer to God. Love will be clearer as we stay along this path sovereignly set, this divine royal path of love.
Getting to know Him more, Who is love, is getting to know more of ourselves. His light exposes who we are in His love. Darkness hides and lies. Light illuminates and reveals the truth of who we are.
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)”
Isn’t it amazing, the greatest of these is love? “O God, let me love.”
Let’s be filled with His love. Let’s be infused with His love and empowered within by the Holy Spirit:
“that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesian 3:16-21)”
I started out to discover and share 1 Corinthians 13, and now I am blessed by this study.
Many don’t know if it is a sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal, when they hear one. Popularity, charisma, eloquence and articulation; we are often caught enamored by these. Thus, we are unable to detect the real motive behind the message. We have switched-off our spiritual sensitivity.
Motive is everything. The motivation of the preacher will move and steer you, knowingly or unknowingly, towards the direction of that motivation was intended for. Motivation can be transmitted very subtly. It affects lives. At times, performance is used to cover-up motive. At times, the preacher has no inkling to his own motive, hidden underneath his surface thoughts.
Are you attracted, entertained, tickled or impressed by appearance? How do you know if it is the love of God? You must sense it in your heart, not by your outward senses.
We need to learn what divine love is, so as not to be confused with human love. Because God is love, His love is in the signature and DNA of all His communications, intentions and purposes.
Without the love of God, we become ineffective for God. We might be effective for the expectations of people; but in God’s sight, we are ineffective.
“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2)”
Divine love is both most simple and most profound. We cannot boast of anything we have or can do. Stripped of everything, love must remain.
At the end of days, how do I remember myself by? Not so much what I have acquired or attained. Not so much what I have achieved or accomplished. But, is the love of God evident in my life? Is the love of God the most prominent feature after I break-down the story of my testimony on earth?
Have you loved? The Lord will say to the faithful servant: “enter into my joy”. Did you love the Master enough to serve Him unselfishly? Nothing will take you further in serving God’s kingdom than the love of God. Nothing will motivate you to go further than the love of God.
Believe me …divine love is the most unselfish thing you can ever experience!
“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:3)”
If love is the most unselfish thing, why do I look to profit myself? In the last verse of this chapter, verse 13, we read that faith, hope, love are connected. Most times, when the word `hope’ appears in the New Testament epistles, it refers to the blessed hope of the eternal future for those who are in Christ.
God rewards eternally those works which are motivated by His love – even if it is unrecognizable to human eyes, even if it can’t be quantified, even it is not appreciated by others. God sees even when no man sees. There is no insignificant act in the eyes of God, which is motivated by His love.
God is love. We as His children, we INHERIT His love. We are identified as His children, we IDENTIFY with His love. As children, we grow-up imitating our Father who is love, we IMITATE His love.
God is love. As such, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 describes the character of God. Verse 8 says love never fails. God never fails.
God is love. God suffers long and is kind. "Father, thank You that you have tolerated my ups and downs and bestowed upon me kindness upon kindness. You suffered my sins, forgave me, redeemed me. I can do nothing to deserve all that. It is by Your grace alone. And now, give us grace to suffer others just as You have suffered because of us. Help us to tolerate with others as as You have tolerated us. Not only that You have tolerated us, You have rebounded with many kindness to us. Help us to not only tolerate, but to give kindness which is beyond tolerance, even to those whom we think don't deserve it."
God is love. God does not envy. "Father, it is unimaginable that you are ever envious at all. You are happy when we are happy. You are blessed when we are blessed. Adam and Eve thought you wanted to take away their opportunity to be happy and to be blessed. Many in this world think the same way. They are deceived by Satan the accuser. Show Your love to them, Father. In Jesus' name, I earnestly pray this. Amen."
God is love. God does not parade Himself, He is not puffed up. "Father, many times You move quietly, unnoticed. You do not crave for credit or acknowledgement from us. You did them because You LOVE us. We thank You so much. We want to take this special time to express our appreciation of You. How you so often did things for our good, behind our backs, when at last we noticed them, we were so grateful. Thank You, Lord, for working constantly on our behalf."
God is love. God does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil. "Father, I repent that I regularly lost my cool on my wife, Su-Leng. My words were too direct without understanding her needs. I was quick to retort and slow to discern. It has become a lifestyle to think from my own perspective and interest. I got impatient and agitated. On occasion, I could think of horrible actions in retaliation, when I am hurt. Father, forgive me, sincerely I ask. But I also thank You that I am gradually getting better. This recent season has been great. I am more tender and my words more comforting. Thank You, again and again."
God is love. God does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. "Father, make us understand this part of Your nature, this part Your character. Help us see from Your perspective, to understand what You understand. Transform us, mold us, so that we will not EVER rejoice in the attraction, in the lure, in the fun - of iniquity. Let us ALWAYS be attracted, be drawn, be pulled - by the truth. In Jesus' name, I ask and pray. Amen."
“Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. (1 Corinthians 13:8)”
God is love. And God is greater than any spiritual gift or revelation. Without His divine love living through us; the operation of a spiritual gift or revelation loses its potential, may end up a mess and be damaging to others; instead of being a blessing.
Every gift and knowledge is to be administered by the love of God. For the love of God is the springboard, the platform, the launching pad, for every good gift.
The first evidence of a restored relationship with God is His love in our heart and the outworking of His love from our heart. The result of this love is ministry.
“For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. (1 Corinthians 13:9-10)”
In heaven, everything will be revealed. We don’t need knowledge and prophecy by then, because everything will be clear to us. The purpose of knowledge is to steer and guide us. The purpose of prophecy is to strengthen our faith and hope. The condition and situation of heaven is such that these become unnecessary.
God fills heaven. He Himself powers heaven. Heaven does not need a sun because the Son will shine at optimal brightness throughout heaven with His eternal spiritual light. His glory lights up heaven. Yes, spiritual light is constantly visible in heaven.
God Himself fills heaven. His presence uninhibited because there isn’t sin and there isn’t fallen nature. His glory is immensely powerful. His very person is enough for heaven. The rest is exceedingly abundantly splendidly exciting and blissful to no end. Yet the rest is mere fringe benefit compare to God Himself who is there in His fullness.
God is love. We will feel His love everywhere in heaven. We will immerse ourselves in His love. There will be no ecstasy here now on earth like it there ...no such experience, not even by believers of Christ in that degree or in that sort of perpetuity.
No hangovers. No hang-ups. Just glorious love in Jesus Christ.
We will more than bask in His love. We will be one with His love. His love will shine into us and out of us, like we are transparent. We will be perfect conduit of His love. We will love one another. His love will be like blood running through our veins. His love will exude through our skin pores, the ointment and aroma of His love.
May we have more of heaven on earth right now in this lifetime, even though we can’t compare or compete with being totally there. May we not only catch a glimpse of heaven. May we not only experience heaven. May we be filled with heaven as much as possible. One day, we will have an immortal body. But today, let us have as much of heaven as we can.
The watermark of heaven is love. The indelible identity of heaven is love. The benchmark of heaven is love. The standard of heaven is love.
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1 Corinthians 13:11)”
The spiritually mature goes after love because love remains. God is love. Love will always remain.
Spiritual gifts and knowledge will pass away. These are love tools. The spiritually mature, by the love of God, will use these to bless people. These are not trophies of achievement or status attained.
1 Corinthians 14:1 says to pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts. This perspective is the perspective of the spiritually mature. He differentiates which is which, which is to be pursued and which is to be desired.
Because you pursue love, you will desire spiritual gifts in order to be a real blessing to people. Spiritual gifts become the means to an end which is love.
Love is the beginning and the end.
“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)”
In prophecy, we look for clues and information about the future. As we grow in God, God Himself becomes our past, present and future. In revelation, we look for keys and cohesiveness of knowledge. As we grow in experiencing God Himself in person, God becomes our key and cohesiveness of knowledge.
For He is the Word, existing eternally, through Whom all entities were created. In heaven, this truth and reality will be full blown. Until then, we grow day by day.
In the here and now, love will be clearer to us as God grows closer to us or rather we grow closer to God. Love will be clearer as we stay along this path sovereignly set, this divine royal path of love.
Getting to know Him more, Who is love, is getting to know more of ourselves. His light exposes who we are in His love. Darkness hides and lies. Light illuminates and reveals the truth of who we are.
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)”
Isn’t it amazing, the greatest of these is love? “O God, let me love.”
Let’s be filled with His love. Let’s be infused with His love and empowered within by the Holy Spirit:
“that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesian 3:16-21)”
I started out to discover and share 1 Corinthians 13, and now I am blessed by this study.