I Corinthians Chapter 13
The Corinthian church thought it was great that they had spiritual gifts to express, especially the gift of tongues. In their actions they were demonstrating that they thought highly of themselves because of their gifts. Paul taught them that they needed to first and foremost love each other. This love was agape love that practices self-denial for the sake of another. True godly love always puts others before self.
Let's Reflect
1. Paul may have exaggerated a bit here (in my opinion) when he said a person might give their body to be burned to promote self. I honestly don’t think anyone would jump in a fire just to prove they were better than someone else. However there have been many men and women who have willingly sacrificed their life for the lives of others with their military service. But the point he is trying to make is that all gifts given by the Holy Spirit are given so that we can express them for what purpose?
2. If we are going to use the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given us our aim, our goal must be to promote the love of God to each other. Think about that for a moment. So the opposite would then be true – if the believer is not using their spiritual gift(s), they are not expressing the love of God to others. Now with that thought in mind as you read the definition of love in verses 4-8a, do you see new meaning to the love we are to have for one another?
3. The theological argument as to whether the gifts of the spirit such as speaking in tongues has ceased or not ceased could be argued all day. The truth that we need to really see is that all gifts will cease, because there will be no need for the gifts when the perfect comes. What does Paul mean by the perfect will come?
4. Our spiritual understanding is limited to what God allows us to understand during this life on earth, but one day we will understand all. How does Paul describe our current spiritual knowledge according to verse 12?
5. Paul also indicates that we grow in spiritual knowledge, we mature spiritually. Paul expressed this idea with the example of what? See verse 11.
6. No matter what gift we have as a believer in Jesus Christ, what is the greatest gift that God gave to us and we can share with others?
Devotionals
