1 Corinthians 13 - 1.30.26
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
Observation
Paul is writing to the church in Corinth that was divided. Paul is talking about “Agape Love” which is the highest form of love, defined in the Bible as a selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial commitment to the well-being of others, modeled by God’s love for humanity. Unlike emotional, sexual or conditional love, agape is an action-oriented choice that persists regardless of circumstances, flaws, or lack of reciprocation. (Google)
Ephesians 2: 4-5
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved.
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God’s love is: Unmerited, Gracious and constantly seeking the benefit of the one’s He loves.
Application
Agape Love, modeled by Jesus Christ, is not based on a feeling; rather, it is a determined act of the will, a joyful expression to put the welfare of others before our own. Jesus gave us the example of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) who was beaten and left for dead. The Priest walked on the other side, so he didn’t have to look at him, the Levite also passed on the other side, but the Good Samaritan picked him up, bandaged him up and took him to an Inn, so he could recuperate from his wounds. The Good Samaritan paid for his stay and also told the Inn Keeper; to take care of him and he would come back and pay him any extra expenses. God tells us to: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The Good Samaritan was actively showing Agape Love.
Agape Love does not come naturally to us. Because of our fallen nature, we are incapable of producing such a love. If we are to love as Jesus Christ loves, that love “Agape Love” can only come from above.
These scriptures are used a lot in weddings, but I feel the real meaning of these verses are for our neighbors. The people we work with, the people that have a different political opinion than us, the neighbors down the street, the people protesting on the street corner, and the people driving next to us in traffic. Could you imagine if we actually lived our lives in obedience to these scriptures? With hearts that are eager to forgive and serve. What an impact we would make to a hopeless, angry world.
Romans 5:5 - And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
LOVE NEVER FAILS!
Prayer
Dear Lord, We ask you to show us how to love the unlovable. We ask you to teach us to love like you do. Give us hearts that burn with your love and help us to be a people of action. Break our hearts for what breaks Yours. Help us to always walk in obedience to your word. Thank you for your love and mercy that was poured out on us. May the world know that we are Christians by our love.
- Michelle Craig
1 Corinthians 12 - 1.29.26
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4 -31
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Observation:
I fully believe, that this scripture, can be remedy to insecurity and imposter syndrome that often haunts the body of Christ.
There is so much vibrancy in the body of Christ, because the definition of love itself crafted us, and none of us should miss out on the opportunity of witnessing its dynamic and vivacious colors.
Paul words God’s love for His creation and His creation’s purpose so beautifully, saying that each part of the body of Christ (each of us) does not just merely exist but is deeply needed and intricately created with purpose for the kingdom of God AND with purpose for one another.
A common catch phrase that a friend of mine will always say is, “God loves to do what He loves to do.”
We can see God loving to do what He loves to do in this scripture: which is to proclaim purpose over His kid’s lives, remind us what we are here to do, and from whom we are able to do it from.
We are here to love and serve in unique and incredible ways that He has ordained us to do, through speaking truth in the prophetic, being a vessel for God’s healing hand in a hurting world, pray in the spirit, discern spirits to call out evil, and expose darkness to the light where it cannot survive, and uplift each part of the body as we discover more what we are capable of IN Christ – our one true source who is Christ and the Holy Spirit that is within us.
This passage is a moment of celebration and also a reflection point for each of us. It is celebratory that the body of Christ was created in the way that it was, vibrant, dynamic, and purposeful to this broken and hurting world.
This also being a reflection point for us, how are we viewing our part in the body of Christ and how are we acting on the responsibility we have been given to one another in empowering one another & collaborating with one another to see more of heaven on earth?
Application:
This week, during your quiet time and as you continue to fast and pray alongside our church family . . . I would love to encourage you to ask Christ to increase your love for the things He created you to do within the body of Christ and to help you see His love for your part that He created in the body of Christ.
Ask Him to show you His love for your prophetic gifting, for your prayer language, for the way your encouragement to others is a remedy to their soul. I believe the Lord wants to show each of us His love for what we were created to do and increase our love for acting passionately in our design as an eye or a foot or a hand. By asking for the Lord to show us His love for what He has uniquely designed us and empowered us to do, we can receive His deep admiration for His design and His kids and in turn walk boldly in what we have been commissioned to do by the one who loves us & whom we love right back.
Along with this invitation during your quiet time, I would love to ask you to reach out to someone in your community and remind them how essential they are to what Christ is doing. Hebrews 3:13 reminds us that encouragement has the power to soften hearts as sin hardens them. In this world, it can become so easy to become hardened to the deceitfulness that sin has caused, feeding us the lie that we are not needed in the body of Christ or that our contribution is “just” missing the mark. But according to the LIVING word of God, if we encourage one another, our hearts are softened and healed of the hardness of these lies.
Go encourage your local foot or eye, or hand, chances are they need it.
Prayer:
Jesus!
We love you. So much. Thank you for loving this world so much, that you created purpose in our design that contributes to your plans and action towards redemption for this broken and hurting world. Thank you for bringing us into your plans and empowering us with your holy spirit to not work blindly, but work in the individual and dynamic and wonderful ways you have created us each to work in. It is wonderful to be your fearfully and wonderfully made child, let us never lose sight of that.
Bring to mind those who need encouragement, those who need softened hearts after being hardened from lies and deceitfulness. Help us Lord to receive all the love you have for us.
We love you, thanks for loving us first.
Amen.
- Tess Schrupp
1 Corinthians 11 - 1.28.26
Scripture
I Corinthians 11:1 - Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Observation
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. What a bold statement from Paul! But this is the definition of discipleship. As we are running hard after God, we should be bringing others with us and training them up.
The Great Commission - Matthew 16:20:
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Application
To me, “follow my example” is a scary statement. I am not worthy to have others follow my example. But we can’t extract the first part of the statement from the second part – as I follow the example of Christ. I am not good enough, or strong enough, or spiritual enough to have people follow my example. And that is the whole point. We need Jesus. We need Jesus to save us. We need Jesus to guide us. We need Jesus to go with us and grow us and mold us in his image. And as we go, we are called to take others with us. As we learn to live and love like Jesus, we are called to help others do the same.
Prayer
God, please help me to live in a way that shows others how to follow You. Help me to be so connected to You, that your light shines out of me. Fill me with your power so I can imitate Jesus daily and use me to help others along the way.
- Debbie Dunn