1 Corinthians 13 (2)

Pray Psalm 103.1-6.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The LORD executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.

Sing Psalm 103.1-6.
(Old 100^th: All Creatures that on Earth Do Dwell)
O my soul, bless the LORD’s great Name! His many benefits proclaim:
He pardons sins and heals disease, and from the pit grants us release.

With mercy rich and steadfast love He satisfies us from above,
revives our youth, works righteousness, and justice serves for the oppressed.

Read 1 Corinthians 13.1-7; meditate on verses 4-7.

Preparation
1. How many attributes of love do you find?

2. Which are defined in negative terms?

Meditation
Paul’s description of love is only a sketch. He’s simply marking out the broad parameters of what was missing in the Corinthians’ faith. Because God is love (1 Jn. 4.8), love is far vaster and more mysterious that can ever be subsumed in a few verses. And because He is love, the love we need—the love Paul commends here—can only be received from Him.

Nevertheless, what Paul wrote about love here is true and was measured to the Corinthians so that they could see clearly in the mirror of God’s Word where they needed to improve.

Paul defines love both positively and negatively. Doing so would give the Corinthians many angles on this most excellent of all gifts of the Spirit. Paul treats love here as in the gift category, but we also know that he explains it as the fruit of the Spirit which breaks out into several more specific attributes (Gal. 2.22, 23). Positively, love is patient, kind, joyful in truth, long-suffering, trusting, hopeful, and durable. Negatively, love does not envy, parade itself, become puffed up, seek its own, become provoked, think evil, or rejoice over iniquity.

There’s enough here for a lifetime of improvement for every one of us.

Everything in 1 Corinthians has been unfolding toward this point. All the Corinthians’ problems, concerns, issues, and needs can be resolved as the Spirit works in them for love. Love never fails (v. 8), and only when we love like this can we realize the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
Paul’s description of what love does and does not do is a succinct reflection of God’s Law—what it commands us to do and not do.

Love for God requires that we serve only Him, love only Him, and worship only Him.
It also requires that we bear His Name, as Christian, in an unhypocritical way—not in vain.
It requires that we keep the Sabbath Day holy—being its own special day—resting in Him.
It also requires that our first foray into dealing with others—our parents—is honoring them (Ex. 20.1-12).

Then love for God and for others prohibits some behaviors:
This love does not murder.
It does not commit adultery.
It does not steal.
It does not lie.
It does not covet (Ex. 20.13-17).

The Law and Love are God’s message to His people, spelled out carefully in His Word.
With only a few changes, we can take the contemplative song written by the sons of Korah, and recast it as a message from God to us:
“[My] heart is overflowing with a good theme;
I recite [My] composition concerning [My people];
[My] tongue is the pen of a ready writer” (Ps. 45.1).

“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Ps. 119.11).
“Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law” (Ps. 119.18).
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119.105).

“Finally, all of you be of one mind,
Having compassion for one another;
Love as brothers,
Be tenderhearted,
Be courteous;
Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling
But on the contrary blessing,
Knowing that you were called to this,
So that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Pet. 3.8, 9).

Truly, godly love is “far vaster and more mysterious” than we can comprehend; so, the whole of Scripture sets out to teach us, through the Holy Spirit, the ins and outs, the ups and downs, the do’s and don’ts, and the yeses and no’s of Love.

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3.18, 19).

It’ll take a lifetime, but happily, that is the sanctifying work our lifetime is meant for.

For reflection
1. What are the absolute, rock bottom essentials for loving like this?

2. In which aspect of love would you like to make more progress? Why?

3. Whom will you encourage today in the wondrous and wonderful love of God?

Some of the effects of charity are stated, that we may know whether we have this grace; and that if we have not, we may not rest till we have it. This love is a clear proof of regeneration, and is a touchstone of our professed faith in Christ. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on the 1 Corinthians 13.4-7

Pray Psalm 103.17-22.
See how many ways God shows His love to you! Give Him thanks and praise for them all, and call on Him to help you grow in His love for others.

Sing Psalm 103.17-22.
(Old 100^th: All Creatures that on Earth Do Dwell)
But evermore to those who fear the LORD brings lovingkindness near;
His righteousness to them extends and to their children without end.

He rules upon His throne in heav’n; His sovereign rule o’er all is giv’n.
You angels, bless the LORD, rejoice, who live in strength to heed His voice.

All you who serve Him, bless the LORD, all you who heed His righteous Word!
Let all throughout the cosmos whole unite to praise Him, with my soul!

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.