But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all

“So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.”
??1 Corinthians? ?12:31?

LOVE…

 1 Corinthians 12:31 is immediately followed by 1 Corinthians 13 (a lot of people know this to be the love chapter of the Bible) 1 Corinthians 12 talks of all the spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit blesses us with, but 1 Corinthians 13 goes on to say all these things are useless and pointless to the Christian walk if you don’t love first. 

God has been teaching me so much on this here at training camp. Before desiring any gift (talent or supernatural ability) from God, I need to to desire and operate in love. What is more important? Healing someone physically, or showing the love of Christ to someone and giving the chance to have eternal life? Would you feel more loved if someone prophesied over you, or if someone was intentional and took the time to love you invest in you? I know what makes me feel more loved.

If we operate in love first, and then use the gifts God has given us in love, wouldn’t it be so much more powerful and effective for the kingdom of God? Love God first, and then we begin to grow a deeper and more genuine love for others. Everything changes when you heal out love or when you prophesy out of love. 

The word ”love” in this passage comes from the Greek word ágape meaning: love that is affection [fond attachment or devotion] or benevolence [desire to do good to others; goodwill; charitableness]. This is not a love from the perspective of the western culture (like romance).

In America we use the word so loosely that we can say “I love God” and then go and use the same word to express how we feel about ice cream. I’m not saying that it is wrong to say you love things, but I am saying that this word love spoken in 1 Corinthians 13 is so much more than something we deeply like or desire or the way the American culture represents love. It is a love that is so deep that we desire to help others and we desire the best for others, and when we use our gifts with that perspective and intention there is SO much more power. We need to love people so greatly that nothing (not fear, or embarrassment, or shame, etc..) should get in the way of us sharing the gospel with others

If this is our perspective we will desire to share the gospel with a new light. This will light more passion to share the gospel, because we now share it out of genuine love for our neighbors for their benefit, not ours. 

I highly suggest reading through 1 Corinyhians 12 and 13 and see what the Lord speaks to you through these passages. My squad just watched the documentary “Free Burma Rangers” (which I highly suggest watching) but this organization shows a beautiful example of what it is like to live out the love of Christ. 

The point? Sometimes all we can seem to think about or want is the spiritual gifts, or on the other end we want to justify why we are angry at someone. Love is not proving spiritual gifts or loving yourself and only thinking about your feelings. Unpopular opinion, we are not called to live a life of self love and self care, we are called to live a life that glorifies God, even if that means giving up everything. Love is so much more about God and others. True love [agape] desires to help others not yourself and all the comforts you want. 

Don’t misunderstand me, it is good to have a healthy love for yourself, like taking care of yourself and so forth, but God didn’t call us to live easy lives, He called us to live the life He has planned for us. 

As I have been beginning to live a life of abandonment and going without so many pleasures and comforts, my love for God has only become greater, because my mind is not distracted by pleasure and comfort, it is filled with God and learning to rely on Him for strength. I still struggle to walk this out. Loving others like this is so hard. It is so hard to love our brothers this sincerely. 

It is even harder to love those who are strangers or those whom we do not like. I was reading James 2 this morning and felt extremely convicted “My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?” Woah, God calls us to favor all people equally and love all people equally. 

If you get nothing else from this post, please remember one thing LOVE IS THE GREATEST GIFT OF GOD WE CAN OPERATE IN. THE FACT THAT GOD GIVES US THE ABILITY TO LIVE OUT AGAPE LOVE IS BEAUTIFUL. The more we grow in the Lord, the more His agape love will work in us, and eventually because of this love we will be able to work more mightily in the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

 The first step? Go to God and ask Him to give you this love for others, and He will. Keep loving Him and this love will spread to others. “Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’”
??Matthew? ?22:37? ?This is the greatest commandment, but  close second is to live our neighbors as ourselves “A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”??Matthew? ?22:39? 

If I were lost, I would want my brother or sister to share the good news with me, that is a true example of agape love. If you would like to know ways to pray for me, this is one. Pray that I will love my neighbors this deeply and with agape love, not fake worldly love. And I will be praying the same for all of you! This is something I struggle with and God is doing a new work in me regarding this topic of love. He is so good! Amen to the One who transforma our hearts and renews our minds!!! 

with love and blessings, 

Mandie