Where do the night-time stars go during the daytime? They go nowhere. They remain in the sky. But we cannot see them because the sun is also in the sky, and the sun is so bright that the twinkling glimmer of the stars pale into insignificance.
During the early days of the Christian church, the Corinthian Christians began arguing and debating among themselves regarding which spiritual gifts have the greater honor. The apostle Paul became concerned about their divisive arguments and tells them in his first letter that all the spiritual gifts are important, and that each one has a significant role in the church, the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12).
Then Paul puts the SUN in the sky of spiritual gifts with his introductory “And now I will show you the most excellent way” at the conclusion of chapter 12.And in chapter 13, unveils the supremacy of LOVEover the other gifts, like the way the light of the sun is supreme over the light of the stars.
With detailed real-life experiences, Paul illustrates what relational behaviors are of most importance in a body of Christian believers, if they are to be God’s SUN-LIGHT in the world. He then concludes with, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
The core concern in Paul’s writing to the Corinthian church, is the question, “With all your debates and arguments about spiritual gifts, where is the Jesus-like love that Jesus commanded in your relationships?” That question remains critically relevant even for today’s followers of Jesus.
Jesus said, “A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35). In last week’s blog, I said that this command to think and behave with Jesus-like “love” is what sets us apart in our communities and authenticates our claim of being a Christian.
But how do I know what this Jesus-like love looks like in real life? In what definitive ways does it set us apart in our relationships with others?
In chapter 13, Paul answers this question by describing how this Jesus-likelove behaves in various life situations. First, this love is “patient …kind. It does not envy, it does not boast.” It is said that jealousy is the most subtle of all demons. It is the first feeling we learn to disguise quite well.
Second, this love “is not proud … does not dishonor others.” An Englishman once said, “You can tell a true gentleman, not by how he behaves in the presence of his king, but by how he behaves in the presence of his maid servant.” It is how we behave in the presence of those we think are inferior to us that shows what we really are in character.
Third, this love “is not self-seeking … not easily angered …keeps no record of wrongs.” Unfortunately, we humans are quick to keep score. We save up our negative feelings and at an opportune time we let go with an outburst of retaliation and getting even. Paul is saying that Christians do not store up negative feelings. They forgive and forget the past act, the hurt feelings.
Finally, this love “does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.” We all know the secret delight we get from someone else’s sin. Other’s wrongdoings make us seem a little less wicked by comparison.
But love also knows that we sometimes fail each other. And when that happens, there is only one healing, reconciling remedy, and that is to forgive. To offer and receive forgiveness is a special form of love. And so, this love “always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres.”
Paul tells the Christians in Corinth, who were so enamored with spiritual gifts, that Jesus-like LOVE is the supreme gift, the most important, the greatest thing in all the world, for it is the only gift, the only thing that will last forever, even into eternity. All other gifts come to an end, but “Love never fails … cease … be stilled … nor pass away.”
Scotsman Henry Drummond traveled all over the world giving his meditation on the theme of love. His book, The Greatest Thing in the World, published in 1890, has been in print since then and maintains its status as an inspirational classic.
In his book, based on 1 Corinthians 13, Drummond contends that “agape” love (self-giving, divine love flowing through human action) is the greatest transforming power in the world. He challenges people to read 1 Corinthians 13 once a week for three consecutive weeks.
Then he challenges readers to live it out every day. He writes, and I quote, “To love abundantly is to live abundantly,”and at the end of life “the moments that will stand out, the moments when you have really lived, are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.”
As we pray “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” let it be “Lord, help me to love others, all others, always, like you love me.” Amen!
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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – October 19, 2022
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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