Love Is the Key, Part 3
Today we finish our reading of 1 Corinthians 13 in the Amplified Bible.
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I TALKED LIKE A CHILD, I THOUGHT LIKE A CHILD, I REASONED LIKE A CHILD; NOW THAT I HAVE BECOME A MAN, I AM DONE WITH CHILDISH WAYS AND HAVE PUT THEM ASIDE.
In this verse Paul is comparing our earthly pursuits to pursuing God, Love Himself. The earthly things are childish and selfishly motivated. When we pursue God, Love, we put away our selfish ways, which are driven by our flesh and our earthly understanding. Walking in love causes us to put away our childish ways. A child is self-centered. An adult in God’s kingdom is someone who is God-centered, Love-centered, Love-focused. He/She is a person who thinks God’s thoughts and acts in God’s ways. This is possible as we spend time with the One Who is Love. We become like the One we spend the most of our time with.
FOR NOW WE ARE LOOKING IN A MIRROR THAT GIVES ONLY A DIM (BLURRED) REFLECTION [OF REALITY AS IN A RIDDLE OR ENIGMA], BUT THEN [WHEN PERFECTION COMES] WE SHALL SEE IN REALITY AND FACE TO FACE! NOW I KNOW IN PART (IMPERFECTLY), BUT THEN I SHALL KNOW AND UNDERSTAND FULLY AND CLEARLY, EVEN IN THE SAME MANNER AS I HAVE BEEN FULLY AND CLEARLY KNOWN AND UNDERSTOOD [BY GOD].
What is Paul saying here in this verse? He is saying that as long as we are earth bound, here on this earth, we only know partly what God’s Kingdom is like. We understand partly. But when He comes into our lives, when we are with Him, we understand fully and clearly. There are those who say that this is after we go home to be with Jesus or when He comes to take us in the rapture. Then there are those who say that it is possible while we are here on this earth, as we intimately fellowship with Him. I am not going to enter into a debate on it. I firmly believe that the more we get to know Him now, the less partial our knowledge is of Him and His Kingdom. We know Him better and better the longer we are with Him and the more closely we follow Him.
AND SO FAITH, HOPE, LOVE ABIDE [FAITH----CONVICTION AND BELIEF RESPECTING MAN’S RELATION TO GOD AND DIVINE THINGS; HOPE----JOYFUL AND CONFIDENT EXPECTATION OF ETERNAL SALVATION; LOVE----TRUE AFFECTION FOR GOD AND MAN, GROWING OUT OF GOD’S LOVE FOR AND IN US], THESE THREE; BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.
Faith, hope and love live in us as God’s children. They are all qualities that He has. He is a God of faith. He gives us Bible hope. He is Love. These three qualities abide, take up residence in His children. Of these three, one is greater. Love is the greatest of these qualities because God is Love. Without love living, resting, abiding in us, there is nothing of God to bring life to faith and hope and all the other things we do here on this earth. Without love there is no life. God’s life is found in His love. No love----no life. No life----no light to guide us. God is Love. God is Light. God is Life. Paul’s parting statement is that without Love there is nothing else. It is the greatest, because it is God.
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I TALKED LIKE A CHILD, I THOUGHT LIKE A CHILD, I REASONED LIKE A CHILD; NOW THAT I HAVE BECOME A MAN, I AM DONE WITH CHILDISH WAYS AND HAVE PUT THEM ASIDE.
In this verse Paul is comparing our earthly pursuits to pursuing God, Love Himself. The earthly things are childish and selfishly motivated. When we pursue God, Love, we put away our selfish ways, which are driven by our flesh and our earthly understanding. Walking in love causes us to put away our childish ways. A child is self-centered. An adult in God’s kingdom is someone who is God-centered, Love-centered, Love-focused. He/She is a person who thinks God’s thoughts and acts in God’s ways. This is possible as we spend time with the One Who is Love. We become like the One we spend the most of our time with.
FOR NOW WE ARE LOOKING IN A MIRROR THAT GIVES ONLY A DIM (BLURRED) REFLECTION [OF REALITY AS IN A RIDDLE OR ENIGMA], BUT THEN [WHEN PERFECTION COMES] WE SHALL SEE IN REALITY AND FACE TO FACE! NOW I KNOW IN PART (IMPERFECTLY), BUT THEN I SHALL KNOW AND UNDERSTAND FULLY AND CLEARLY, EVEN IN THE SAME MANNER AS I HAVE BEEN FULLY AND CLEARLY KNOWN AND UNDERSTOOD [BY GOD].
What is Paul saying here in this verse? He is saying that as long as we are earth bound, here on this earth, we only know partly what God’s Kingdom is like. We understand partly. But when He comes into our lives, when we are with Him, we understand fully and clearly. There are those who say that this is after we go home to be with Jesus or when He comes to take us in the rapture. Then there are those who say that it is possible while we are here on this earth, as we intimately fellowship with Him. I am not going to enter into a debate on it. I firmly believe that the more we get to know Him now, the less partial our knowledge is of Him and His Kingdom. We know Him better and better the longer we are with Him and the more closely we follow Him.
AND SO FAITH, HOPE, LOVE ABIDE [FAITH----CONVICTION AND BELIEF RESPECTING MAN’S RELATION TO GOD AND DIVINE THINGS; HOPE----JOYFUL AND CONFIDENT EXPECTATION OF ETERNAL SALVATION; LOVE----TRUE AFFECTION FOR GOD AND MAN, GROWING OUT OF GOD’S LOVE FOR AND IN US], THESE THREE; BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.
Faith, hope and love live in us as God’s children. They are all qualities that He has. He is a God of faith. He gives us Bible hope. He is Love. These three qualities abide, take up residence in His children. Of these three, one is greater. Love is the greatest of these qualities because God is Love. Without love living, resting, abiding in us, there is nothing of God to bring life to faith and hope and all the other things we do here on this earth. Without love there is no life. God’s life is found in His love. No love----no life. No life----no light to guide us. God is Love. God is Light. God is Life. Paul’s parting statement is that without Love there is nothing else. It is the greatest, because it is God.
posted by Rev. Kialeen Potterton @ 7:09 PM
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