A More Excellent Way

"Let me show you a more excellent way. LOVE..." This is what I heard when thinking about Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Something, that quite honestly, is easy to forget.

I've been accused of sounding like a hippie, but I assure you that this type of LOVE IS NOT the "free love" of the 60's. Neither am I advocating some type of marshmallow type of love that cannot handle the difficult things. No, what I'm referring to is the type of LOVE that doesn't mind getting its hands dirty. The kind of LOVE that can withstand even the greatest of tragedies and circumstances. A LOVE that is not rooted in our ability but does require our participation. The AGAPE (LOVE) of God. That which is unconditional, unmerited, and unrestrained. A LOVE that goes beyond all of our preconceived notions. The very same LOVE that was demonstrated at the Cross of the Christ.

I'm amazed at how quickly we forget that the love that Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 13 is the greatest power in Heaven and on Earth. That we often assume that it is much greater to speak in the tongues of men and angels, to have the faith to move mountains, and to possess the ability to understand all mysteries. All of these, according to the Apostle, pale in comparison to LOVE. Which, translated into our lives, is the grace to walk in the very essence of God.

Paul had been dealing with some great schisms among the believers. It seems as though it didn't take long for the church to begin to divide into various groups. Some of them devoted to one teacher or another. Others using their spiritual gifts as a way to climb the ecclesiastical ladder. Paul, explaining the way in which the Spirit of God graces each and every one of us with various gifts, moves the conversation through a powerful transition. While all of these gifts are great, there is a more excellent way. L-O-V-E.

I realize that this poses many problems for us. While many of us affirm the need for LOVE, and even the command to LOVE one another, the reality is that we tend to give a nod in LOVE'S direction but continue to pursue the other things. For the Apostle, LOVE was the greatest of things to be named among us. The one thing that had great eternal value. The benchmark with which all other gifts and abilities would be measured. We may be able to prophecy the paint off the wall but without LOVE we are nothing. What a huge contrast to how we perceive God's activity among us.

What if the greatest among us are not the ones who can preach like no other?
What if our effectiveness in the world is not tied to what we know or do not know?
What if the Father is after something more lasting among us than our ability to communicate a gospel message?
What if LOVE is more than the foundation but also the culmination of all that we do?

LOVE is patient and kind. Therefore, it points to a greater reality of the nature of God.

LOVE doesn't get tied up in all of the junk that we do. So there isn't a need to envy, boast, or become arrogant and rude.

The fact that LOVE does not insist on its own way tells us that we have far to go in seeing this perfect LOVE embodied in us. Since even the greatest among us can become irritable or resentful when we don't get what we want.

Paul seemed to really drive the point home about LOVE not rejoicing at wrongdoing since the Corinthians had been propping up people who were living immoral lifestyles. No, says Paul, LOVE rejoices when the truth wins out in our lives.

This morning I was struck with the way in which one of our English translations stated that LOVE does not take into account a wrong suffered. I wonder how many hours I've given to this type of wrong thinking?

LOVE bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. How many of the other gifts can make this claim?

LOVE NEVER ENDS.

Shouldn't those last three words clue us in to the greatest need among us? Should not this enduring quality of LOVE move us toward a greater pursuit? Rather than chasing after the gifts of the Spirit, jockeying for position among the believers, or seeking to justify our spirituality among one another; what if we decided that LOVE would be the greatest among us? Determine in our hearts that LOVE is the more excellent way.

Personally, un-apologetically, I would rather be remembered for the LOVE that I demonstrated than for the gifts that operated within me. I would rather be honored for LOVE than for preaching, for compassion rather than success, and for mercy rather than ministry. While I love sharing in the prophetic, seeing the mountains move, and speaking through the enablement of the Spirit; the reality is that those things don't mean as much to me as they once did. LOVE means the most because I have discovered that it is here that we experience the reality of God. Is this not the reality that the Apostle John was pointing towards when he said, "So we have come to know and to believe the LOVE that GOD has for us. GOD is LOVE, and whoever abides in LOVE abides in GOD, and GOD abides in him."?

I do believe the Spirit is speaking to the church today. "Come. Let me show you a more excellent way. LOVE!"