So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NABRE
Paul is addressing troubles in the community of Corinth. He speaks to them about the abuse of the gift of tongues, division in the church, envy of others’ gifts, selfishness, impatience with one another in the public meetings, and behavior that was disgracing the Lord. Paul wrote to remind the community that the only way to be truly Christian is to be motivated by love. It can be a common problem in church staff and volunteers. The people let their ego rise, succeeding in their group although alienating other groups. The church must be a community that models Jesus. Many times people focus on their roles and actually harm the overall mission of the church. The rosary ladies think their most important in church life, groups serving the needy feel their role is most important in church life, the music minsters believe they are most important, the coffee is the most important, the message, the ornamentation committee, the ministers of hospitality, each group believes they are the most important and can actually disparage the other groups. In the end Jesus is not being modelled. Paul ran into this in the early church and we can see it in the church of today as well. A strong leader is needed to overcome these struggles. Paul spoke to the church reminding them of what was most important. We need a strong reminder today.
Paul writes love is the greatest, first because we’ll see God and won’t need faith, and our hope will be fulfilled. Secondly, Jesus is love, to be like Jesus we must love. It is Jesus who attracted people at the church founding. If we want to bring people to the church we must love, all church groups unite as Jesus, everything else is secondary.
Have you lost sight of the mission? How do you attract people to the church?
It is Jesus who attracted people at the church founding. If we want to bring people to the church we must love, all church groups unite as Jesus, everything else is secondary. Share on X#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity#dailybibleverse @youversion#BeAnEncourager #love #mission #Paul#everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist#jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion#biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse#verseoftheday #pray #prayer #goodnews#loveeachother #godisgreat #bocaraton#youversion #everythingalways