O - The JFB [Jamieson, Fausset and Brown] Commentary renders this verse: "Besides recommending your zealous desire for the greatest gifts, I am about to show you a something still more excellent (literally, “a way most way-like”) to desire, “the way of love”." So many teachers, leaders and folks try to set gifts against love or love against the gifts when the Scriptures present them as not only complementary to each other but directly connected and essential to each other. The reason we can't just "love" and forget the gifts is because the love we have received/experienced and represent and express to all is the love of God … and how can this love find an accurate expression where the gifts are never in play? Jesus' point of the kingdom being at hand included expressions of God's love via the gifts. It is how he sent out the 12 and the 70 and its how he sends us all out into the world. The gifts without their precursor and motivator being love would disintegrate into expressions of superiority and measures of judgment rather than expressions of grace and the Lord's measureless love. Faith is to always lead wisdom, love to always lead gifts/power, hope must lead all facts and mercy is to lead all sacrifice.
A - I can't produce the gifts on demand but I can love "on demand." The love must recognize the Lord's greatness, power and gifts and zealously seek such for the sake of his name and for the sake of all. I am not to be "passive" in my desire for the gifts nor in my expressions of love to all people. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and it is the Kingdom of love in action and of power not just words. My part is to believe, pursue and give away what he has so freely given to me. This is the most excellent way; it is the way of love, the way of Jesus.
P - All Merciful, All Powerful, All Loving Lord of all and Lord of me,
Thanks for this day with all of its dynamics, events and preceding occurrences - for you are working everything for the good of those who love you back and stay called according to your purpose. I thank you for love, the gifts, faith, wisdom, mercy, hope, grace and power. Thank you for calling me to your amazing, miraculous self so that I would know I am loved and learn your ways. Lord, I turn into you and take you at your word, written and spoken. Today, use me … let me lead with love and believe for the expressions of your power in any and every circumstance. Help me to have the zeal you require according to the gifts and the immediacy of love toward any and all. Jesus, I have never been this way … this day … and my only hope is in you. You lead. I follow - no matter where you're going or what you require me to face. Lord, my answer is yes!
Steve
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