Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“Love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous, it does not boast, it does not become conceited,it does not behave dishonorably, it is not selfish, it does not become angry, it does not keep a record of wrongs, it does not rejoice at unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Chapter eleven starts talking about some specific things in relation to the Corinthian church and the culture in Corinth. We should not use external and physical things to prove our worthiness or our beauty. The things are not wrong, but we can use them in wrong ways. Whether we are covered in finery or covered in rags, it is our character and actions that provide our beauty and bring glory to God. The Lord’s supper wasn’t about eating and drinking and revelry. It was a symbol of entering into Jesus’ covenant with the Father. We need to take it seriously. We need to treat it as the symbol it is for receiving spiritual food and spiritual water. It should not be looked to as an ordinary feast, but a way to get our minds and hearts focused on Jesus and what He has done for us.

Chapter twelve starts going into our lives as BELIEVERS. Not just ways we are to live, but how we have access to so much more as part of the covenant Jesus’ cut with His Father. We have Holy Spirit dwelling in us. We have been given access to His Fruit and He gives gifts to us. His gifts. Supernatural gifts. And one is not better than another. ALL are needed. In the same way that we are all parts of the same body. And ALL are needed. No one part is better or worse than another. A janitor for Jesus is just as important as an evangelist for Jesus. We both have jobs to do. We both witness and minister for Jesus. We both have VALUE. When one suffers, we all suffer. When one has honour, we all have honour. We should not EVER mark ourselves as better or worse than any other member of Jesus’ body – Jew or Gentile.

Chapter thirteen is a glimpse at the moral character of God Himself. God is LOVE (1 John 4:7-21), so everywhere we see love we can put God’s name. Yahweh is kind, Yahweh doesn’t envy, Yahweh isn’t puffed up, Yahweh doesn’t rejoice in iniquity, etc. It is an incredible glimpse into who God is and how God views things. It shows the intimacy He wants with us. It helps us see what is compatible with Him and what isn’t. It shows clearly that He isn’t SEEKING to put bad things onto us for ANY reason. It shows us clearly that He wants us healthy, whole, and healed of all the trauma of the curse. Every arena of our lives. That is the hope God carries for each and every one of us. He LOVES us SO MUCH.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Paul

Key Verse(s): 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 12:4-6; 13:8-10