Do you know someone that always gives unto others sacrificially and expects nothing in return? That person that shows kindness and grace when it is not deserved? Who holds their tongue from any harshness and gives of their time to you and doesn’t bring up your past mistakes and believes the best about you no matter how many times you fail? They are never irritable and don’t fly off the handle and are always content. They are always abounding in joy. They show incredible patience and are never jealous or resentful of others. They show enduring and steadfast perseverance and are still hopeful in trusting God always and never loses faith through every circumstance. Last but not least, they trust God to do His divine correction and chastening in those in need of it, because it says in Hebrews 12:6, that God disciplines those He loves and will make the correction. Is that person seen in your mirror? I can’t say I have it all covered consistently either. Yet Christ’s love for us in shown in every verse of 1 Corinthians 13.
1 Corinthians 13 is often called the love chapter and is frequently quoted at weddings. However, it is what we as followers of Christ are to show to our families, our friends, to our coworkers, and to anyone we encounter. Love, Paul states, is above all spiritual gifts in importance, and they are meaningless without love. This was how Jesus lead – He loved unconditionally and showed it in His actions in serving others. Romans 5:8 states: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus gave without demanding or expecting repayment. He showed love to the unlovable and unappealing. He loved even when He was rejected. This type of love is called Agape love – loving without expecting anything in return and has much to do with self-denial for the sake of someone else. We can put Jesus’ name in each of the descriptions in 1 Corinthians 13 of what love is. Can I put my name in there? Can you?
Having numerous gifts and talents is not the measure of success or maturity. The display of love coming from one’s heart attitudes and motives shows the mirror reflection of Jesus Christ. My mirror is a bit cloudy as I look at myself in 1 Corinthians 13. Then there is the other factor that I do not have the ability to see everything with perfect clarity. What about you?
When we get to see Jesus face-to-face, our overshadowing circumstances won’t matter any longer. There will be no more limitations and barriers. When we get to heaven, our vision will be clear, and we will know God entirely and completely. Our in-completes will be canceled. May we pursue while we are here on earth, 1 Corinthians 13:13: “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Listen to Chris Tomlin – Jesus Loves Me – Worship Video with lyrics on YouTube.