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The More Excellent Way

Day 280

Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:1 - 1 Corinthians 16:23

God has given to you and I gifts to enhance His Kingdom. God's desire is for the Kingdom to be advanced. Jesus while here on earth spoke about the Holy Spirit. He taught that the Holy Spirit would come to instruct, guide, teach, convict the believer. Before Jesus ascended into Heaven He instructed that the disciples remain in Jerusalem until they were endued with the Holy Spirit and power Acts 1:8.  

The Holy Spirit's coming onto the believer changed the landscape and empowered the believers to do the works of God. Jesus had promised the disciples that they would perform greater miracles than what He had done John 14:12. The church in Corinth is similar to the Body of Christ today. Gifted with diverse giftings that have divided many while blessing more. As I read today's passages God asked me a question? Why would Paul write about love in the middle of his exposition of the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Why is 1 Corinthians 13 located where it is?

Firstly, God desires that every believer understands that love is the only way in God's Kingdom. It was love that drove Jesus to the Cross. It was love that caused God to give His Son to us John 3:16. God desires that we walk in love and not a love based on feelings but on Him. 

Love is greater than gifting or the manifestations of faith. When we walk in love we cover a multitude of sin Proverbs 10:12. Love is the greatest of all the pillars of the faith. Without love, one's deeds are classed as useless. Paul writes and says that even gifts will end however love will be forever. 

The third reason why Paul admonished the church on this matter is that we humans have a tendency to celebrate gifting and forget the fundaments. Paul's desire was that even in seeking the gifts of the Holy Spirit the believer should pursue love over everything we chase after. 

The love of God is not selfish. It's not self-centred nor is it envious. God's love in us and through us is patient and not rude. God's love is to be seen in all our behaviour. Your language should be from a heart of God centred in love. Your interactions with those you know and strangers should have only one denominator: love. When love is all that oozes from you people will be affected. God's love loves purity hating sin. 

My daily prayer is the Holy Spirit will shed abroad in my heart the love of God Romans 5:5. I pray it becomes yours too. 

Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:10

Decree:

1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. (italics mine)

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