1 Corinthians 13
July 1, 2022
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (v1-3)
The Corinthians were especially enamored with those spiritual gifts that heightened their status in the church: speaking in tongues, words of knowledge, mountain-moving faith, etc. But Paul wants them to see that, without love, all of these gifts are worthless. After all, it was Jesus Himself, who said: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). That’s why Paul writes about “love” right in between his two chapters on “gifts.” Loving one another is the true hallmark of the Spirit-filled church.
Lord, I praise You for the way You designed the church to work - with everybody using their gifts to build up and bless one another. I see that happening more and more at Trinity, which is beautiful. But as we grow in our use of gifts, may we also grow in our love for one another. Make us more and more a family, where we practice this 1 Corinthians 13 love (patience, kindness, humility, others-focus) that characterizes a Spirit-filled church.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
