The Greatest Is Love

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

The greatest proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit in an individual or a congregation is the expression of Holy Spirit directed love. There of course were other manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the individuals at the church in Corinth, but in the rest of the love chapter, we will see that love trumps and outlasts them all!

Remember, love is not a feeling. It is action marked by a willingness to serve others in accordance with the instructions found in God’s Word. What we have been looking at over the past months’ worth of these devos is the attitudes that accompanies Holy Spirit directed loving actions.

These are the same attitudes that marked the love of Christ when He came to serve and give Himself up as a ransom for all. (1 Tim 2:6)

 

God is love. Jesus is God’s love personified in attitude and action and that’s why the love chapter can conclude with this statement. 1Co 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

The greatest is love! Yes while we are on this side of heaven, by all means live in faith, and live in hope. Because we hope and live for when the perfect will come….namely love personified, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Think about it, there will be no need for faith in heaven and no need for hope, for faith will be our transport and our hope will have been fully realized, but love is another story. It will be the saints permanent eternal state, it’s the ultimate goal for every believer  and that makes it greater than anything else. Now we love in part, but then we will know what it is to love our God fully. No wonder john prayed at the end of the Book of Revelation, “Come Lord Jesus.”

 

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Love Never Fails

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

It’s been awhile since my last blog, but I’ve been hospitalized with some medical issues, and now I’m back home and ready to go again!  I thank you for your prayers and continued patience.

 

The greatest proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit in an individual or a congregation is the expression of Holy Spirit directed love. But what does this love look like? Today we’ll continue to look at love as found in the love chapter of the Bible….1 Cor 13!

 

We pick it up in verse 8 where love never fails. The idea of failing here is to “drop away, specifically to drive off course.” Love is the north star of the Christian and it keeps us on course.

 

In the same vein, it is never inefficient.  Energy efficiency of our appliances and furnaces are a big deal these days, but as high as their efficiency rating may be, they are never 100%..., love is.

Keep loving, no matter what my brother and sister, it will keep you on course, walking the walk that pleases our heavenly Father and helping you to finish the race set before us without meandering off course.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Love Endures All Things

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

The greatest proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit in an individual or a congregation is the expression of Holy Spirit directed love. But what does this love look like? Today we’ll continue to look at love as found in the love chapter of the Bible….1 Cor 13!

 

We pick it up in verse 7 where love endures all things. To endure is to “stay under” Holy Spirit guided love doesn’t look for a way out, rather it strives to stay in. This kind of endurance was spoken of earlier in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.

1Co 10:13 No temptation (read that, trial) has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted (trialed) beyond what you are able, but with the temptation (trial) will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

 

Please note the later portion of this verse, it is key in “enduring” all things.  A quick reading  might lead one to look for a God-placed door or window of escape, a way out  if you will, but the verse does not remove the trial, it only promises that God will give you what it takes to endure it. In short God’s way of escape is to endure, trusting Him for the results. Love doesn’t say “I’m outa here” rather it says, “I’m going to hang in there trusting God to take me through.” Love “stays under” the crisis, knowing and believing that God has a faith building purpose for it.  

 

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Hopes All Things

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

The greatest proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit in an individual or a congregation is the expression of Holy Spirit directed love. But what does this love look like? Today we’ll continue to look at love as found in the love chapter of the Bible….1 Cor 13!

 

We pick it up in verse 7 where love hopes all things. Another way of phrasing this might be, “love hangs in there during difficult times.” There is no getting around it, hope is a byproduct of tough times.   

 

Ro 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;  4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

 

Going through a rough time in your relationships with others? Hang in there! It’s what Holy Spirit directed love does! And hang your hat on the truth of Romans 8:28 and ride out the storm! Keep loving! For we know and believe that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Believes All Things

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

The greatest proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit in an individual or a congregation is the expression of Holy Spirit directed love. But what does this love look like? Today we’ll continue to look at love as found in the love chapter of the Bible….1 Cor 13!

 

We pick it up in verse 7 where love believes all things. OK, we’re not talking about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny or more importantly…false doctrine. A Christian is always called to “weigh the spirit of what’s being said or pushed as truth. 1Jo 4:1 reminds us: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

 

This believing of all things is to commit to trust of each other. It is a playing out of Holy Spirit directed love in our interactions with each other in the body of Christ. It’s a commitment to trust each other’s words.

 

But what if that person is lying? Good question. Many times, you really can’t tell. I have worked with enough addicts to know that many are skilled in hiding the truth of their addiction. There often is a fear of discovery that leads us to hide our sins. This is sad because they are best dealt with when we put them out in the open,

 

Jas 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

 

The Holy Spirit calls us all to honesty in the Body of Christ, Mt 5:37 "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

 

And if that truth is lacking He will take care of it either now, (ask Ananias and Sapphira about that Acts 5:1-11) or later. Re 21:8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

 

Meanwhile the presence of Holy Spirit guided love in our midst is committed to mutual trust, knowing that God will deal with the untrustworthy.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Love Bears All Things

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

The greatest proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit in an individual or a congregation is the expression of Holy Spirit directed love. But what does this love look like? Today we’ll continue to look at love as found in the love chapter of the Bible….1 Cor 13!

 

We pick it up in verse 7 where love bears all things. I honestly don’t know where to go with this. I want to say, “what things?” Please Holy Spirit be more specific! But He’s not, he says ALL THINGS.

 

The word “bear” may be helpful us here. According to the Strong’s Concordance, to “bear” is to “roof over, to cover with silence”  

 

Holy Spirit guided love then tells us to put a sock in it when it comes to the  idiosyncrasies of others! In accordance with the preceding passages, we aren’t silent on the matter of sin or silent on the matter of righteous living, but in those little things that may be bothersome to us, we let it slide!

Don’t let those minor flaws of others put a wall of separation between each other. Holy Spirit guided love, doesn’t do that It’s also helpful to remember that in the matter of minor flaws, (ahem) you probably have a few of your own.

 

Let us learn to bear with each other in all our relationships. It’s what the Holy Spirit would have us do.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word