July 24
1ST CORINTHIANS 13 / PART 3
-1ST Corinthians 13:4-7 states, … Charity ( love ) suffers long, and is kind; charity ( love
) envies not; charity ( love ) vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is
not easily provoked, thinks no evil; Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; Bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things …
-This detailed description of “love” ( “agape” ) shows and tells us of the fruit of
the Spirit in action. Remember … This love is all giving, not getting! This love is not just in word, but it
is also in deed as well. 1st John 4:9 tells us that God’s love was manifested toward us, because that God
sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In essence, we could say that Jesus, the Word made
flesh, was a manifestation of 1st Corinthians chapter 13. He was the perfect revelation and manifestation of the
love of God that we have to look at. Jesus told us that His commandment was for us to love one another, AS HE HAD LOVED US!
He then told us that there is NO GREATER LOVE THAN THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS ( John 15:12,13 ). Jesus showed
us true love in the laying down of His life for the sin of the world, then asking us to learn of, partake of, and to distribute
this same love to all.
-1st Corinthians 13:4-7 speaks of a person who is DEAD TO SELF. It then goes on to list the fruit
of the Spirit that is to flow from such a person. This can be seen in verses 4-7. Love bears up under anything and everything
that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures
everything [without weakening]. ( The Amplified Bible )
-God’s love is the only thing that will melt the hearts and lives of people, causing them to turn from
their carnal ( fleshly ) ways, including the carnal ideas that they have about their Heavenly Father. As His love melts our
hearts, we will discover that He is a loving Father to a degree that we never imagined possible. HIS LOVE INCLUDES ALL, CORRECTS
ALL, RESTORES ALL, AND SAVES ALL, UNTIL HE IS ALL IN ALL!
-O LOVE OF GOD, HOW RICH AND PURE!-