Dear Brothers and Sisters,

You are invited to come to the Wednesday evening prayer meeting and pray for the church (and other things -- 7:00 PM Wed., LHF time).

1 Corinthians chapter 13 is a continuation of the discussion the apostle Paul started in chapter 12. Some of the Corinthian believers were apparently coveting the spiritual gifts and functions of some of the others. So in chapter 12, Paul made an analogy between the Church and the human body. The human body consists of many members with each member performing its own function. Not all members of the human body can be, for example, eyes. If the body consisted of nothing but eyes, it could not function. In the same way, the Church, the body of Christ, could not function if all the members performed the same function. At the end of chapter 12 Paul lists some of the functions which God has given for various members of the Church to perform through corresponding gifts of the Holy Spirit:

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is part of it. And in the Church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts." (1 Cor. 12:27-31a)

The last sentence (verse 31a) in the passage I just quoted can be translated as a command: "But eagerly desire the greater gifts" as the NIV translators did -- or it can equally well be translated as a statement of fact: "But you are eagerly desiring the greater gifts" as in the NIV footnote to verse 31. I think the footnote translation fits the context much better. Paul is rebuking them because they all want the greater gifts -- but he says there is a much better way:

"And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in tongues of men or of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." (1 Cor. 12:31b-13:3)

The way of love is not just a better way. It is the most excellent way. There is absolutely no way that is superior to the way of love. The apostle John say that everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7b) That is, unless you have been born of God and you know God, you cannot love. Also (1 John 3:14), "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death." And (1 John 3:16), "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."

In these verses, John is talking about God's kind of love. There are other kinds of love, of course. For example, John also tells us not to love the world or anything in the world. (1 John 2:15) But God's love is the kind of love where you lay down your life for your brother. According to Paul in 1 Cor. 13, it is possible to give all you have to the poor and surrender your body to the flames -- that is, to lay down your life -- and in doing so, to gain absolutely nothing. (1 Cor. 13:3) What seems like it would be the greatest possible sacrifice, to give up all your worldly possessions and even your life itself, is absolutely worthless if it is done without love. (Maybe they'll build a monument to you.)

God's purpose for the Church is to reveal his love -- the love of Christ -- in the world, in and through the Church. Brothers and sisters, pray that we may do so.

Come on Wednesday and pray for the Church. The Church is the overflowing abundance, the wealth beyond measure and the full and perfect nature of God who fulfills and completes everything in every way.

Grace and peace,
Dean Svoboda

PS: You can also bring you own prayer requests and pray for them with your brothers and sisters in Christ (i.e., with the Church). Bring your requests to God with thanksgiving and receive his peace.

PPS: Pass this invitation along to others in your household or to someone who doesn't have an e-mail address in the LHF directory