SEPTEMBER 5, 2024
READ: 1 Corinthians 13 (Focus vs. 4-13)
MEMORY VERSE
“[Love] is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered.”
1 Corinthians 13:5
BACKGROUND
We hurried to a fast-food restaurant to have lunch together on my friend Jerrie’s short work break. Arriving at the door about the same time, six young men got inside just in front of us. Knowing we didn’t have much time to spare, we grumbled inwardly.
They stood as a group at both registers to be sure each of them could order first. Then I heard Jerrie whisper to herself, “Show grace now.” Wow! Sure, letting us go first would have been nice, but what a great reminder to think of others’ needs and desires and not only my own.
The Bible teaches that love is patient, kind, and unselfish; it’s “not easily angered” (1 Corinthians 13:5). “It often . . . prefers [others’] welfare, and satisfaction, and advantage, to its own,” wrote commentator Matthew Henry of this love. God’s kind of love thinks of others first.
In a world where many of us are easily irritated, we frequently have occasion to ask God for help and the grace to choose to be patient with others and to be kind (v. 4).
Proverbs 19:11 adds, “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”
That’s the kind of loving action that brings honor to God, and He might even use it to bring thoughts of His love to others. With God’s strength, let’s take every opportunity to show grace now.
By: Anne Cetas
INSIGHT
Writing to a divided church in conflict and deficient in love, Paul instructed the believers at Corinth how to love one another and described what true love looks like (1 Corinthians 13:4-13).
Jesus taught that love is a requirement for those who believe in Him. Loving God and our neighbor are the most important commandments for “the entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:40 nlt).
Building on the original standard of “love your neighbor as yourself” (v. 39), Christ sets a higher standard, patterned now after His sacrificial love. He wants us to “love one another [as] I have loved you” (John 13:34).
Calling it a new commandment, Jesus said love was the distinguishing mark of those who believe in Him (v. 35). Loving others is proof that we’re God’s children who’ve experienced His love (1 John 4:7-12, 19-21).
APPLICATION
In what ways might you need to not act out of frustration? How could turning to God help you?
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
“In a world where many of us are easily irritated, we frequently have occasion to ask God for help and the grace to choose to be patient with others and to be kind…”
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“This simple quote about grace is worth pondering: “After all, you might be someone’s first experience with GRACE”” Kristen Johnson
“When non-believers come in contact with us, will they find grace? Will they learn to associate our behavior with GRACE, and by default, the grace of Jesus?” Kristen Johnson
“He who is devoid of kindness is devoid of grace” Arabian proverb
PRAYER
“I’m in need of Your help, God. I face many levels of irritation but want to instead be filled and overflowing with Your kind of love.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“DEAR HEARTS AND GENTLE PEOPLE” Bing Crosby
I love those dear hearts and gentle people
Who live in my hometown
Because those dear hearts and gentle people
Will never ever let you down
They read the good book from Fri till Monday
That’s how the weekend goes
I’ve got a dream house I’ll build there one day
With picket fence and ramblin’ rows
I feel so welcome each time I return
That my happy heart keeps laughing like a clown
I love the dear hearts and gentle people
Who live and love in my hometown
There’s a place I’d like to go and it’s back in Idaho
Where your friendly neighbors smile and say hello
It’s a pleasure and a treat to meander down the street
That’s why i want the whole wide world to know
I love those dear hearts, I love the gentle people
(Who live in my hometown)
Because those dear hearts and gentle people
Will never ever let you down
Read the good book from Fri till Monday
That’s how the weekend goes
I’ve got a dream house I’ll build there one day
With picket fence and ramblin’ rows
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE THIS YEAR (DAILY)
ACTS 16
