Scripture:
1 Corinthians 13:11-12 ESV
[11] When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. [12] For now, we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
Observation:
Paul is speaking to the Corinthians about love. In fact, a lot of pastors will preach over this chapter in February. It’s known as the love chapter and honestly describes all the characteristics of GOD. However, even though I would like to write about love. The Holy Spirit brought me to these short verses this morning. So I think I should stick to HIS plan. Paul was a very mature follower of Christ. It didn’t take long after his conversion on the road to Damascus for him to realize that the way he had been taught was incorrect. There was a deeper understanding message in the scripture. A message of love and kindness that would draw people to repentance. All the stones and dragging men and women off to prison were not necessary. Where grace abounds GOD’S love abounds. This was a totally new way of thinking for him. It showed a maturity that he had not possessed in the past. Therefore, his childlike thoughts and actions were put to rest, and he was able to understand the message of love that was underneath all the war death, and judgment that was spoken about in the first 5 books of the bible. The books he had studied as a kid. Seeking the truth. That day on the road to Damascus revealed a lot to him. He knew at that point he only had part of the picture. The Torah could only show them so much. There needed to be more. Hate and judgment and beating people with rocks until they were dead was not the answer and would leave nothing but a big Holy full of dead bodies. Jesus Christ revealed HIMSELF to Paul because he knew that Paul would do whatever it took to preach the gospel. Before his encounter with Jesus on that dusty old road, Paul only had part of the picture, and honestly, even after the encounter, the picture was not totally complete. But Paul knew enough to know that the way he was doing things had to change. He had to stop looking at things from a human perspective and start trying to see things from the Holy Spirit’s side of things, and love was the catalyst for that.
Application:
I remember the day I had an encounter with Jesus Christ it changed my whole world. In fact, in some aspects, it was like I grew up overnight. Things changed in my life that I thought I would never be able to shake loose. Things that haunted my thoughts and actions became a lot less important, and although my approach was much like Paul’s at first. I have found over time that you can NOT force someone to live for Jesus. You have to let the Holy Spirit draw them into a relationship with HIM through grace and truth. Our job is to love them into the kingdom. We don’t know the whole picture, and honestly, as humans, we are only going to see the part that we relate to the most. Our perspective on life is like trying to see the world through a glass of muddy water. We can’t see what GOD sees. We don’t know what HE knows. We can read and study the Bible all of our lives, and HE still knows way more than we ever could. The answer HE gives is simple. Love them all and let HIM sort them out. I know… it’s not easy… believe me, there are some that I honestly have to love from a distance. I know how hard it is to pray for someone you consider an enemy. Someone who has wronged you. But this is what I also know… leaving the past behind, we press on to the upward call of GOD’S glory. We have to be very careful not to get stuck with a heart full of hate and a mouth full of scripture. We have to remember where we ourselves came from and not get Cynical. None of of have it all figured out. We will always only see part of the picture. But if our approach is always in love, we simply can’t go wrong.
Prayer:
Father, we know that you see the whole picture, and one day, you will show us what we couldn’t see at the time. But until that day, let us act out of a heart filled with love. Let us move and operate being led by your Holy Spirit. We want to be mature christ followers. But if we are honest… sometimes we are not so good. Our childish ways still want to show their ugly heads, and we will push for our way, or think we can make someone act right. When it’s not us who have that ability… it’s you. Help us to love the way you love to lead the way you lead. We want to be Spirit Led and bible Fed individuals who are seen as men and women chasing after your heart. Mold us and shape us to be like your son. The one who loved the least of these. Help us to love the ones who we find somewhat hard to love. Our hearts’ desire is to live out what your word teaches, and in order to do that, we need to have an accurate understanding of what you are saying to us through it. So help us to clearly understand it so that we can love those whom others deem unlovable. Because we know those are the ones you are chasing after. We love you, Father, and we want that to be seen as we love those whom you created. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.