“Charity never faileth…” (1 Cor 13:8) “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way…Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away” (1 Cor 12:31; 13:8). Paul concludes his discourse on love by expressing the supremacy of love triumphing over prophesy (1 Cor 13:2), speaking in tongues (1 Cor 13:1) or possessing great knowledge (1 Cor 13:2). In other words, God makes a clear distinction between the gifts which are given by the Spirit (1 Cor 12:11) and love which is developed by the Spirit (Gal 5:22). He expresses the preeminence of the character over the gifts when weighed in heavenly balances. Whereas the gifts of God are equivalent to a good or maybe even a great way, Paul presents the development of character (love) as a more excellent way. Its an unfortunate reality that much of Christendom has grown accustomed to chasing the gifts (prophecies/manifestations/revelations) of God rather than pleading and praying to develop the character of Christ. A Christianity that reaches only as far as the gifts of Christ rather than looking to fall deeper in love with Christ will eventually fail, cease and vanish away (1 Cor 13:8). But a Christianity which genuinely chases Christ will never fail. While those who chase prophecies, revelations and manifestations are chasing open doors, those who seek Christ above all else will have those things chase them. Our cars, homes and worldly possessions can all be stolen, but the character that Christ develops within us, no devil will be able to steal from us. The gifts are given freely and are dispensed to whom the Holy Spirit chooses according to His wisdom (1 Cor 12:11), but our character will cost us everything (Luke 14:33). That which is easily given can also be easily taken, but that which costs us dearly we are more apt to keep and safeguard. Our love when it is genuinely expressed cannot and will not fail. In the coming days we will need the love of God which does not fail. There will be an attack on the believer’s love life like never before (Matt 24:12). Evil spirits have been unleashed upon the earth and are bombarding the standards and institutions that God has created for us to enjoy. If we genuinely love Jesus, these things alone can spark a fire of frustration which (if we are not careful) can eventually lead to hatred in many hearts. We must soberly and circumspectly guard our hearts in this hour. Satan may not be able to have us to indulge in blatant sins, but if he can frustrate us long enough he can be successful in defiling our hearts. It hurts to see what God created for good being turned upside down for evil. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame…” (Heb 12:2). The life of Jesus is clearly exemplified as a love that does not fail. He not only endured mockery from the religious, but he also endured the cruel scourging and crucifixion from the Romans. His endurance isnt only witnessed in His ability to go through what He went through, but it’s witnessed in Him going through these things correctly; He endured His cross with joy (Heb 12:2). He could have easily called legions of angels to come to his rescue, but had they come to His rescue, who would have come to ours? It is because Christ loved us eternally he chose to suffer the temporary! His love continued to endure, because His vision endured. If Satan could have successfully taken His vision; He could have stolen His dream. But because His love thought only of others; it made no room for him to think only of Himself. In His love, Jesus would selflessly lay down His flesh, so that we could fully possess His Spirit. When our love for Christ is genuine, it will endure even as Christ endured. It will give up its flesh so that the Spirit of Christ may in turn live again through us. Because the love of God never fails; Satan will always fail in his vain attempts to destroy the love of God! From my house to your house have a wonderful Thanksgiving :-)
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 13:33:03 +0000
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