1 Corinthians 13: Do You Have Charity?
Verse of the Day: (V13) “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
1. Cymbal (V1-7)
V1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”
Though God bestowed Paul with the gifts of prophecy and faith, and chose him, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to write 14 of the 27 books of the New Testament of the Bible or God’s Word, namely, Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon and Hebrews, yet he confessed that he was a noisy cymbal and good-for-nothing if he had no charity or love. Indeed, love is God’s greatest gift, because it was love that God sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross and shed His blood for the sins of the whole world.
V2 “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”
2. Child (V8-11)
V8 “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”
Paul explained to the Corinthian Christians that though they were once like children when they first became Christians and only knew certain part of God’s Word, but as they matured in the Lord, they realised that love was truly the greatest gift among God’s gifts.
V11 “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
3. Charity (V12-13)
V12 “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
Paul concluded that though there were 3 great gifts: faith, hope and love, yet he affirmed that love was the greatest among them. One day in heaven we shall have no need of faith and hope as we shall see our God, however, we still need love, because God is love!
V13 “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to love everyone including my enemies as You are love.
