1 Corinthians 13

Walk in Love: Bearing Burdens

1Mar | 2018

Life hurts sometimes. We all face times of loss, disappointment, hardship, discouragement, and doubt.

Read how Paul describes his situation in the letter to the Corinthian church in the first century:

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. —2 Corinthians 1:8-9

Can you relate to any of these thoughts or feelings? Burdened beyond your strength? Despair? Affliction?

The word for burdened in the original language of Scripture means heaviness, weight, burden, trouble. If you continue reading, Paul gives us the proper perspective to adopt in the midst of our hardships:

But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. —2 Corinthians 1:9-10

We have hope! As painful and uncomfortable as these situations may be, they serve to teach us to rely on God. We read that God delivered, will deliver, and will deliver us again. That’s good news!

My idea of deliverance from something painful or difficult is very different from what is promised in this verse. The word for deliver in the original language means to draw to one’s self, to rescue. I often want the deliverance to be out of or the end to a difficult circumstance!

But God delivers by drawing me to Himself. He is my place of refuge, security, hope, peace and joy in the midst! Because…He IS hope. He IS peace. He IS joy. He IS steadfast and immovable. He IS the source of my hope, joy, contentment, and peace in life. None of these are dependent upon my circumstances, but in knowing and trusting in the character of God. He IS faithful and trustworthy!

God is our refuge and comfort in times of difficulty and despair. As we walk in love, we extend this same comfort and encouragement to others. We are not called to bear life’s difficulties alone.…continue reading

Walk in Love: Speaking Truth in Love

22Feb | 2018

posted by susan cady Leave a Comment

I like order. I like rules. I like to stick to the rules and I like it when others follow the rules too. I have a tendency to be a “line drawer”. I grew up with three sisters. I am the oldest, and naturally the bossy one. As a military family we moved around…ALOT! Most of the time I was blessed (and thankful) to have my own room. It worked best given my tendency to like things in order, neat, clean, and everything in its place. It was not a desire my sisters all shared with the same conviction. At one of our duty stations my sister Patty and I had to share a room. She was not as concerned about the order of the room. One day, in extreme frustration with the mess, I was going to teach her a lesson (for her own good, of course). This wrong needed to be righted! I drew the line! Literally. I found the duct tape and put a strip down the center of the room threatening that anything that crossed the line was going in the trash! I felt so good about my decision. Smug. I was going to teach Patty to be a neat, organized person, and to follow my rules for the room. Patty readily agreed to this new rule. I was shocked! As she walked out of the room, she pointed out that the door was on her side of the “line”. I was stuck in my “perfect” room.

Love does not rejoice in wrongdoings but rejoices with the truth. —1 Corinthians 13:6…continue reading

Walk in Love: Forgiving One Another

14Feb | 2018

posted by susan cady Leave a Comment

Forgiving others when we have been hurt or wronged is hard. No question! So where do we begin? How do we love and forgive when we’ve been wronged?

As we continue our study of learning to walk in love, let’s compare 1 Corinthians 13:5b with the mutuality commands (one anothers) found in Ephesians 4.

Love..is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. —1 Corinthians 13:5b (NIV)

Love…is not irritable or resentful. —1 Corinthians 13:5b (ESV)

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. —Ephesians 4:32

LOVE is not irritable or resentful so WALK being kind and forgiving.

Serve One Another in Love

8Feb | 2018

posted by susan cady Leave a Comment

Seeking my own way and serving my own needs is not hard. But learning to put others first at times can be difficult. When it comes to love are self-seeking or serving?

We continue through 1 Corinthians 13 as we compare the attributes of love with the mutuality commands (one anothers) found throughout the Scriptures.

Love does not insist on its own way; (ESV)

Love is not self-seeking; (NIV)

Love isn’t always “me first,” (MSG)

Love is not self-absorbed. (The Voice)

Love is not selfish. (HCSB)

—1 Corinthians 13:5b

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” —Galatians 5:13-14

Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. — 1 Corinthians 10:24

LOVE is not self-seeking so WALK serving one another.

Seek (insist) in the original language of Scripture means to require, demand, expect, crave; to demand something from someone.

Seeking, craving and demanding my own way is not hard! If you are like me, I find being a creature of comfort and convenience quite natural and easy. I like things to fit my routine, my plans, my schedule, my needs and my expectations.

SELF-SEEKING LOVE

“One measure of our love is our willingness to care for people who aren’t very attractive to us: the whining, griping, passive, angry, and annoying people we try to avoid. “ —Julie Clinton, Woman of Extraordinary Faith

Jesus doesn’t just call us to love the people we like. God loves and accepts each of us in our weaknesses and faults, and through that love changes us. God’s love expands the field of vision and our hearts so we can better see and love others the way Jesus sees and loves them.

A love that serves removes the “me”focus, because the focus is Christ! This love-walk is the overflow of my love relationship with Christ Jesus and that enables me to love and look to the interest of others instead of seeking “my way”.

The opposite of a self-seeking love is a serving love. What does it mean to serve others in love?

A Serving Love Shows Hospitality and Welcomes

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God ‘s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies — in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. —1 Peter 4:8-10

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. — Romans 15:5-7

show hospitality —hospitable, loving strangers; a friend/kind to strangers.

welcome — to take as one’s companion, to take by the hand to lead, to take into one’s heart, to take into friendship, to receive into one’s home.

We show hospitality when we extend kindness and love to a friend or stranger. We show hospitality by acknowledging people, by commending accomplishments and by expressing affection and gratitude for others. We show hospitality by opening our homes to friends and strangers.

Our homes do not have to be large and impressive in order to extend hospitality. As they say, “love grows best in tiny spaces”. All that is required is a willingness to open our homes, and to do our best to make others feel comfortable and cared for while they are our guests.

We welcome one another as we embrace people as they are, whether strong or weak, right or wrong. It is not something we practice only when we “feel” like it or extend only to those who are easy to love and serve. It requires that we serve with a love beyond our natural abilities. It requires a complete dependence upon the Lord as His Spirit expresses love through us. We just become the vessels of His love.

A Serving Love Serves

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God ‘s varied grace: —1 Peter 4:10

serving — to attend to anything that may serve another’s interests

We serve one another anytime we meet the need of someone. We serve one another as we use our spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ and further God’s kingdom. We serve one another as we commit our resources, time, money, energy and expertise to meet the practical needs of fellow believers and those in need around us.

Is God calling you to love, serve, welcome or show hospitality to someone outside your comfort zone? Extend a hand of hospitality today!

Rejoicing in Him!

Bearing with One Another

26Jan | 2018

posted by susan cady Leave a Comment

We know we are called to love others, but how do we do this? It can be even more difficult with those who are hard to love. God’s Word gives us the answer. As we learn to walk in love, it will affect our attitudes, our actions, and our relationship!

Learning to walk in love is made practical through what is known as the mutuality commands or the “one anothers” in the Scriptures. This week we begin by comparing the famous love passage in 1 Corinthians 13 with the mutuality commands of Scripture. Look at 1 Corinthians 13:4a alongside Ephesians 4:1-3:

Love is patient and kind; —1 Corinthians 13:4a

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. —Ephesians 4:1-3

LOVE is patient and kind so WALK bearing with one another.

Bear with in the original language means to hold up or keep back from falling, to bear patiently and is spoken of having patience with the errors of weaknesses of others. It implies the idea of giving another person/believer room to grow in their faith and their walk.

When I am impatient my words and actions are rushed and rude. When I walk with an attitude of bearing with my words and actions are to be patient and kind.

How exactly are we to bear with one another?…continue reading