The Greatest of All

1 Corinthians 13:13 “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

I have many friends who like to run for fun. Running for fun is an oxymoron to me, it’s like saying I like to hit myself over the head with a bat for fun, it’s just painful. When my friends run they measure their endurance by the times they keep, the better the time, the better their body has been strengthened for the race. They keep tabs throughout their runs to know if they are on pace or if they need to adjust their stride and rhythm.

God’s people are running a spiritual race and the race can seem long at times. The pace at which God’s people run must be kept to the standard by which they have been called, if they try to run too fast, they might weaken and fall. If they run too slow, they miss out on all that God has prepared for them.

Keeping tabs on a spiritual level is done by measuring our pace against God’s standard and His standard is Love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

When believers check themselves against God’s standard, how do they compare?

Love is the benchmark for every believer.

• Patience—allowing God’s plans to unfold in His time.
• Kindness—showing a tenderness that unfolds in grace.
• Doesn’t envy-contentment with godliness.
• Doesn’t boast-but only in the greatness of the Savior.
• Isn’t arrogant-pride brings destruction.
• Isn’t rude—-showing respect for others.
• Isn’t Hard headed–willing to compromise.
• Isn’t irritable—not taking out your bad day on others.
• Not resentful–not holding onto bitterness.
• Doesn’t rejoice in wrongdoing–hating evil.
• Rejoices in the Truth–embracing the Word of God.
• It bears all things—holding the standard by which God ordained.
• Believes all things of God–embraces the Truth in action.
• Hopes in all that God has promised–trusts when you cannot see.
• Love endures until the End.–remains steadfast throughout life.

When believers compare themselves to God’s standard, they measure themselves to a standard of excellence that will bring great reward….both in this life and an eternity to come.

The list in 1 Corinthians 13 is a revelation of the essence of God’s nature, practiced by example among His people and remains steadfast throughout time. God’s love does not change because God’s nature doesn’t change.

Love Among Believers

The priority of demonstrating love within the body of believers is the standard by which God demonstrates His glory through His people.

Romans 12:9-10 “Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.”

When the church of God practices the fullness of love toward other believers, they demonstrate the character of God practically to the world.

1 John 5:1-2 “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.”

The commandments of God are a demonstration of His love. They lead sinners to Christ and reduce the pride of man. It’s a strange thought to consider how obedience toward God not only demonstrates love toward Him but proves our love towards one another.

What does this say about righteousness among God’s people?

The True church of God is the sum total of every Spirit filled person on earth. There is an inseparable connection that binds one another in the bonds of love, Spirit led love. There is a disconnect when sin infiltrates the church. Division ensues, hatred is demonstrated toward our brothers and sisters in Christ, and a quenching of the Spirit dampens the joy they share.

1 John 3:16 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

Believers must daily measure themselves against God’s love standard, correcting themselves, adjusting their mindsets, and repenting when the filth of sin is brought to the surface in humility. They cannot let sin reign, it wreaks havoc and causes dissension that divides both in the church and home.

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Love for Others

Believers not only show love for one another, they likewise love their enemies.

Matthew 5:43-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Jesus’ mandate for His people is to come out of the world and be separate. The world may love those who agree with their ideology, but they don’t love those who disagree. To love your enemy is to rise above hatred, spite, and detestable actions and demonstrate the character of God.

Jesus deserves His people’s devotion. He deserves to be honored among His church, and He deserves to be lifted up in the world.

When Jesus is exalted, He will draw the lost unto Himself. Exalting Jesus is the role of every faithful believer.

Showing love is not a new concept for those who have read the Word of God, but life can get in the way of a much greater purpose and people can forget where value truly exists.

Practicing love is not easy but it is possible when the Spirit of God reigns in a person’s life. Draw near to Jesus and you will find that demonstrating His love is an expression of praise.