”4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8New International Version (NIV)
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Devotional (Daily Bible Verse)
Love is patient and kind
In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, the apostle Paul started this passage by stating that “love is patient and kind“. And immediately thereafter, Paul went on to describe love as the lifestyle that is expected of the believer (Christian).
Spiritual Gifts
Moreover, Paul’s writing on love was part of his teaching on spiritual gifts. And in chapter 13 verses 4 to 8 of his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul revealed what love looks like.
Additionally, Paul revealed that love was the fairest of all spiritual gifts. Therefore, Paul made it clear to the Corinthians that their use of their God-given spiritual gifts would amount to nothing if love was not in the mix.
Paul, therefore, commanded the Corinthians to prioritize love in their use of their spiritual gifts in the church. And that’s why in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Paul emphasized the preeminence of love. And finally, Paul showed them that love is the greatest, and the thing that makes all the other gifts to be full (not empty).
However, the church in Corinth did not prioritize love in spite of being very gifted spiritually. They were therefore exploiting their spiritual gifts apart from love.
Prayer/Blessing
Father in Heaven, please help me to prioritize and underpin every use of the gifts you have given me with love. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
Luke 23-24 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
