You Are Loved.
Nothing compares to the sweetness of God’s loving presence. In this age, as we await Christ’s return, we experience God’s presence directly and powerfully through His people. Yes, through you!
How is this so? God the Holy Spirit personally indwells every believer in Jesus. Each Spirit-empowered man and woman is then gifted to bring the presence of Christ to every other member of God’s family. We move in His power as we serve, teach, sing, and give to one another as the Spirit equips us.
God the Holy Spirit works within us and flows through us to build-up all of us together in Christ. Through this one-another ministry, the most palpable part of God’s presence is love. Placed between Paul’s discussion on the utilizing the Spirit’s gifts within us for the edification of all of us (1 Corinthians 12 and 14), we find the crux: The beauty and excellency of agape love (1 Corinthians 13).
We Need One Another.
We discover we are loved as we behold the depth of God’s affection in Jesus Christ. He alone is the perfect portrait of The Love Chapter. Yet He calls and empowers His family to respond to one-another with this same love.
Love… “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” (1 Cor. 13:7-8a)
So we can honestly say to one another in the deepest sense: you are loved. We are cherished perfectly by Christ and we taste of His perfect love as it flows among God’s people.
In part, this is why gathering in-person for worship is essential. It’s impossible to fully experience the Body-life as the people of Christ when we’re apart. I understand COVID-19 has weighed heavily on all of us. Concerns, fears, and questions abound. Yet I urge you, from a heart of love, to participate in-person not merely to hear a sermon or sing along to music, but to build-up, encourage, serve others with the presence and power of God. We need one another.
Take a moment to read 1 Corinthians 13. Let the words soak over your soul. Allow it to serve as a litmus test.
Here’s a brief juxtaposition I jotted down this week for personal evaluation:
Love Serves :: Lust Seduces
Love Gives :: Lust Grabs
Love Prays :: Lust Preys
Love Heals :: Lust Hurts
Love Opens :: Lust Disguises
Love Forgives :: Lust Tallies
Love Endures :: Lust Abandons
Let’s take a moment to allow God to probe: How does your heart line up with agape love?
Love in Christ,
