THE MOST EXCELLENT WAY

1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-8 NKJ 
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 

I borrowed the title of this devotional from the apostle Paul.   

Directly after his teaching on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the spiritual gifts that are set in the body of Christ, he declares there is a more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:31) 

Other translations read most excellent way. Super excellent way. A way of life that transcends all others.   

I imagine the Corinthians were excited to hear about this exciting way. I wonder how they responded when Paul revealed that the way is love.   

In this chapter thirteen, the Holy Spirit, through Paul, communicates that the gifts, faith, words and sacrificial giving amounted to nothing unless they were done in love. Those are strong statements, so we can see that God places a big emphasis on our living in this God kind of love.   

The verses of today's passage give us a good presentation of what this love looks like. This is not a romantic driven love. This love is not motivated by feelings. This divine love is an action, a choice, a way of treating and responding to people. 

One of the biggest hindrances to us operating in this love is when we look for feelings first. But Paul never mentions feelings. He only speaks of doing. And we have the ability to do this. It is the most excellent way.   

APPLICATION: 

Jesus put a high valuation on this God kind of love. It was the way He lived, and He wanted this way of life that transcends all others to be ours. So, He made it His commandment that we operate in this kind of love. (John 13:34-35) 

Talk about solving all kinds of relational problems. This kind of love does not fail.   

Have we made this God kind of love, or agape, in the Greek language, optional? Or have we considered it the most weak way? I heard an older minister say years ago that if we would read this passage every day for 30 days. Then, act on what we've read, it would change our lives.   

So, what do we have to lose? It's already mega hot this summer of 22. We should make developing in this most excellent way our summer goal. Nothing to lose but pride and everything to gain by walking in God’s way. 

PRAYER: 

Thank You for loving me this way, Lord. I choose Your most excellent way.