The Excellent Way Of Love

1 Corinthians 12:1-13:3

It is said that actions speak louder than words. This is a biblically correct statement. Paul is writing about the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. They are referred to as the Gifts of the Spirit. Some of these gifts are subtle in their manifestation such as faith, wisdom, discernment, but the majority of them are explosive in their manifestation such as healings, miracles, and tongues with the interpretation of tongues. Having made known these gifts and before giving a description of how they are to be operate within the church, he talks about the most excellent of gifts, or what he refers to as “a more excellent way.”

That more excellent way is love. He says in the beginning of thirteen chapter that even though one possesses these gifts, if he or she doesn’t have love then it really all amounts to nothing. Love is the foundation of all great things done for God. The outworking of these gifts are most effective when built on the foundation of not only what God gives, but what God truly is. He is love!

This most excellent way for many was a new concept in Biblical times. Religion has become so abrasive and judgmental. Love had become lust and the meaning of love lost in the grossness of sexual perversion. Philosophy has spiraled down into meaningless and leaving one begging the question “Is there any meaning in life?” Without love life is meaningless.

But in the midst of this cultural crises God sent his Son into the world to redeem it. Why? Because “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.” Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection we learn that love is more than just an expression of words, it is expressed through sacrifice. God’s way is the most excellent way because it is the only way. God did not express the excellency and fullness of his love through prose, poetry, or roses. He expressed it in his Son.

You and I possess this excellence. It is not in our nature, but it is within us through Jesus Christ who abides within us. We surely have a treasure in an earthen vessel as Paul said and this treasure is the greatest and most excellent expression of love. As we are nearing another advent season ask God to manifest through us the greatest of all gifts, the gift of God’s love wrapped up in our flesh through the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord who dwells within us!

Pastor Robby