When we look at 1Corinthians chapter 12 to 14 we see that chapter 12 contains the list of the 9 spiritual gifts and chapter 14 explains the application of the spiritual gifts in the church. But in between, that is chapter 13, is the love chapter. This itself shows the importance of LOVE in spiritual gifts.
Chapter 13 starts with saying (Verses 1 & 2) “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
Galatians 5:22&23 says “But the fruit of the spirit is love…..” if noticed we can see that the fruit of spirit (which is 9 in characters in this verses) is mentioned as singular, it is not the fruit(s) of spirit. Love is the one fruit of the spirit. The 8 characters that come after “….joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” are merely further descriptions of the fruit of the spirit. In other word Love is full of joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and so on.
Many have a weak concept of love as simply a feeling. But the following 3 verses make it clear that love is a decision:
1Thessalonians 5:8: “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, ……”
1Timothy6:11: “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”
2Timothy2:22: “Flee from evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Love is not only a choice that is made once, but it is a choice that is made daily. Love is a filter that all our words, attitudes and actions have to go through before we speak or act. 2John 1:6: “…, his command is that you walk in love.” Ephesians5:2 “….. live a life of love, …..” Jude 1:21: ”Keep yourself in God’s love ….. “ 1Corinthians 16:14: ”Do everything in love.”
Love also has a unique quality about it, it can cover sin: 1Peter 4:8: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” Love literally gives us back the eyes to see each other without the sin.
We are called to love each other deeply, and many have been hindered from doing that because sin has been left exposed. Sin needs to be repented of, forgiven and the record destroyed. Without love, we will still see each other through the lens of that past violation. Love literally gives us back the eyes to see each other without the sin.
Colossians 3:12, 14: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Love is as powerful as two evil forces in the world, fear and death. Songs 8:6 says that love is as strong as death, and 1John says that there is no fear in love: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Love is literally a force in the spirit realm. But even faith does not function correctly without love. Galatians 5:6: “….. faith expressing itself through love.”
Speaking of faith, Jesus said (Mathew 17:20) “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Faith has power or force great enough to move a mountain; now consider the following truth: (1Corinthians 13:13) “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” This is an amazing statement: Love is a greater force than hope or even faith, but the ‘even greater power of love’ has not received much focus. If a mustard seed of faith can move a mountain or uproot and cast a tree in to the sea, then what kind of magnificent power dwells in love? What if we lived our life with even a mustard seed of love? It would be way beyond moving mountains. This is the realm that I believe God is calling us worldwide to step into.
Ephesians 3:17-19: “… And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Let us see the world through the eyes of JESUS.
Reji Jacob 