Faith, Hope and Love (2)

Posted on by korgrocker

“When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:11-13 NLT

We continue to look at the three eternal qualities that will surpass the spiritual gifts that Paul has been writing about in 1 Corinthians 12. Yesterday, we briefly considered the first, faith. Today, we move on to consider the quality of hope, something that is misunderstood in today’s secular society. We may start a holiday with the thought, “I hope it won’t rain at the beach”, or we might walk into the exam hall with the thought, “I hope that I pass this exam”. There is a rather depressing verse in Ecclesiastes, “It seems so wrong that everyone under the sun suffers the same fate. Already twisted by evil, people choose their own mad course, for they have no hope. There is nothing ahead but death anyway” (Ecclesiastes 9:3). The author of this Book, traditionally thought to be King Solomon, was referring, I think, to people who had no eternal God-perspective in their lives and, like lemmings, they were rushing on to a sure death and eternal misery. But Solomon quite correctly went on to say that hope is only for the living, and it is through our lives that we are able to live a life of hope. In Hebrews 11:1 we read, “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see”.

The Biblical view of hope is defined as being without doubt. Our examples above imply that it might rain or we might fail the exam, building in an element of doubt, but hope lived out God’s way does not doubt because it is underpinned by faith. Worldly hope is just a shadow of what our hope in God really means. In Psalm 16:8-9, we read verses that are permeated with a Biblical hope, “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety”. There is an assurance contained within these verses that is unshakeable and an eternal statement of hope. So what is it that we hope for?

“I do believe, but help me
overcome my unbelief!”

We pilgrims hope in God for eternal life, including forgiveness of our sins and being with God forever. This hope also includes the future resurrection of the dead, being transformed into the likeness of Christ, and the ultimate redemption of both believers and all of creation. We also hope for strength, guidance, and completion in our spiritual journey through the Holy Spirit’s power to live a life that honours God. There is no room for doubt with such a hope, and we pray the same prayer as the father of the evil-spirit-possessed boy did, “ … I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). Therefore, biblical hope is a confident expectation or assurance based upon a sure foundation for which we wait with joy and full confidence. In other words, “There is no doubt about it!”

The third eternal quality from the last verse of 1 Corinthians 13 concerns love. This is something that we considered a few days ago, and Paul reminds the Corinthians believers that this is the greatest of the three eternal qualities. So in conclusion, we read the last verse in 1 Corinthians 13, with the knowledge that “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love”. Of course, we desire the spiritual gifts because God has provided them for us, to build up, encourage, and serve the community of believers, known as the body of Christ, for the common good and God’s glory. But underpinning them all are the qualities of faith, hope and love, and particularly love. Without them, the spiritual gifts will not be of any use.

Dear Lord, we love You, praise You and worship You today. Please forgive us for the times when we have failed to love others. Amen.

Faith, Hope and Love (1)

Posted on by korgrocker

“When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:11-13 NLT

In the context of the verses we are considering today, we find that love is the essential quality required to enable the spiritual gifts to function. Paul started 1 Corinthians 13 with the thought that no matter how effective a person was in their Holy Spirit gifting, unless they loved others, anything they did, even in God’s name, would be ineffective and pointless. Love of others, true agape love, is the foundation upon which the spiritual gifts are able to function. It is the “glue” that binds believers together and enables God to bring Heaven into our earthly lives. But take away love and the whole Christian faith becomes pointless, indeed no more than a clanging bell peeling from a church tower on a Sunday morning, calling the believers to an empty void in a loveless building. There will come a day, Paul reminded the Corinthians, when the spiritual gifts they enjoyed so much would no longer be required, because once in Heaven there would be no need for them. In Heaven will be found Perfection, and Jesus Himself would eclipse any partial or incomplete experiences of the gifts. Sadly, there are some who believe the Perfect has already come in the form of the Bible, God’s Word, but how can that be possible? There is only One who is Perfect, and He is Jesus Himself. A man-made object, the Bible, even if it contains writings produced under the influence of the Holy Spirit, can never be totally perfect because it, too, only reflects God’s message in a way that is sometimes puzzling and dark. 

Faith, Hope, and Love

There are three eternal qualities that will last forever, even surviving the journey across the Great Divide, death itself. They are faith, hope and love, Paul wrote, and although essential to us pilgrims, they are qualities despised and ridiculed by the secular people around us, who have been prevented from seeing the truth that emanates from Jesus Himself. The devil hates these three qualities, and he will do everything he can to destroy and disrupt, because he knows that once a believer applies them in their lives, he has lost them forever. 

Faith we know everything about, because it is through faith that we have become believers. “A biblical definition of faith reaches beyond mere belief—the simple acknowledgement that God exists—into the realm of trust. Genuine faith involves abandoning all human reliance on self-efforts and placing total dependence upon God’s character, His actions, and His promises, as revealed in His Word” (quote from Gotquestions.org). We all know the verse in Hebrews 11:6, “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him”. We pilgrims have that faith, I know, because we are believers in Jesus, who died in our place as a punishment for our sins. How can we ever thank Him for that? But our faith extends further as we apply God’s promises in our lives. This world will throw us many situations that threaten to overwhelm us, but through our faith in God, we are overcomers, applying it and affirming that He is who He said He is. 

Dear Father God. Many will ridicule and even attempt to turn us away from You, but we thank You that through Jesus, we have the strength and determination to be overcomers and stay faithful to You. We declare that we have the faith we need to know that You are who You say You are, and we stand on that foundation today and every day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Childish Reasoning

Posted on by korgrocker

“When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:11-13 NLT

At first sight, was Paul saying to us that the spiritual gifts were “childish things”? Looking back over the previous chapters, we find theology that has shaped much of modern Christianity, with its references to the Holy Spirit and His spiritual gifts given to believers, gifts that have continued the ministry of Jesus and His presence to believers ever since. So, saying that the gifts were “childish” could not be further from the truth. In the context of this chapter, we see that Paul was referring to the time of perfection, a time when the use of spiritual gifts such as prophecy and tongues will no longer be necessary. So, who or what will “perfection” be? It can only be the time when Jesus returns. Eventually, the church will mature to the point that we reach the “fullness of Christ.” This will happen only after He arrives, but it is the course we currently pursue. The gifts are needed to help, edify, and encourage us until He comes; then they will no longer be required.

So, the childish reasoning in 1 Corinthians 13:11 refers to Paul comparing the time of a child growing up, when their worldview is totally different to that of an adult. We know that, of course. A small child has a simplistic and protected view of the adult world around them, reaching conclusions that change as they grow up. For example, a small child will believe in a fantasy called Santa, going along with the deception of writing letters and putting out signs in the street. He or she will hang up their stockings and go through the charade for a while until reality dawns and the bubble bursts. But they then continue the story for the benefit of younger friends and siblings. As a small child, I had no idea of the politics of the post-war years, but, in hindsight, I can remember my parents being concerned by events that had the potential to suck them back into more conflict. Today, my worldview is totally different from what it was as a child.

The gifts of knowledge and prophecy
provide only a partial glimpse

The season of the gifts of the Holy Spirit will come to an end one day. Now we see “puzzling reflections in a mirror” or, as the King James translation puts it, “through a glass, darkly”. The gifts of knowledge and prophecy provide only a partial glimpse of the world that God sees, but I’m sure that God, as with a child, protects His people from seeing more than they should. There was the story of Habakkuk, who cried out to God about the injustice, the violence, the evil and misery that was taking place in his day. But God knew that this prophet could be trusted to handle the message of what was about to happen. Grim and devastating times were on the way, and God said to Habakkuk, “I am raising up the Babylonians, a cruel and violent people. They will march across the world and conquer other lands” (Habakkuk 1:6). But Habakkuk knew that what God was about to do was righteous, and he said to God, “O Lord my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal— surely you do not plan to wipe us out? O Lord, our Rock, you have sent these Babylonians to correct us, to punish us for our many sins” (Habakkuk 1:12). The vision horrified Habakkuk, and after hearing God’s plans, he finally wrote, “I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us. Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” (Habakkuk 3:16-18). 

“I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!“

We pilgrims may cry out to God with a similar complaint. The world around us is still riven with injustice, violence, sin and evil, and there will come a time when God will say enough is enough and deal with it. Jesus gave John a Revelation of what was to come, and it makes grim reading. As in Habakkuk’s day, most people will disregard the warnings and carry on living their lives of evil and wickedness until the final calamity occurs. God said to Habakkuk, “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed” (Habakkuk 2:3). 

The End Times,
seen “through a glass, darkly”

The End Times knowledge that we have is only a partial glimpse of what is to come. Prophetic messages have added to the mystery and uncertainty, but they all lack the detail and timing that only God knows about. We see at present only “puzzling reflections in a mirror” that provide a hint of future events. If you like, we have a childish view of the End Times, with only as much as God has chosen to reveal to us, perhaps for our own protection. But one day, and many think it will be soon, Jesus will return, bringing perfection with Him. And so we pilgrims look for opportunities to warn the people around us, as Habakkuk did by writing God’s message on tablets (Habakkuk 2:2) for messengers to carry to the people of Israel. We meet people in the office and on the street, and have the opportunity to invite them into Jesus’ kingdom. The time is short, folks, so we must be prepared, as we look forward to the time when we will grow up and see what God sees.

Dear Father God. You are our loving Parent, who looks after His children. We thank You for Your grace and love, and we give You all the glory for what You have done and will be doing soon. In gratitude and in the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen

The Time of Perfection

Posted on by korgrocker

“Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.”
1 Corinthians 13:8-10 NLT

Prophecy, tongues and knowledge are spiritual gifts that will be eclipsed by love, which Paul said would last forever. The three spiritual gifts he listed will become useless one day, “when the time of perfection comes”. But if we unpack what Paul meant, we find that what he wrote was really common sense. We know that even in our enlightened Charismatic and Pentecostal churches, the spiritual gifts are woefully inadequate in providing a complete view of God, His character, His plans, His thoughts, and His Kingdom. Although the most gifted Old Testament prophets delivered prophecies that were full of hints and glimpses of what was to come, some remarkably close to the mark (see Psalm 22, for example), they were only a part of what eventually happened. And then we know that Jesus Himself was unable to reveal the timing of an event that His disciples were keen to discover – when the world will end. We read in Matthew 24:3, 36 “Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” … “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows”. Of course, I’m sure that when Jesus returned to Heaven, He would have found out what was planned, but, as a human being, even the God-man, such a revelation was kept from Him. 

It is sad that some movements and denominations, even individual churches, believe that perfection came with the canonisation of the Bible in the fourth century AD, and they therefore believe that all the spiritual gifts that Paul wrote about have no further use now. So in their church services, there will be no manifestations of the Holy Spirit gifts, lowering their expectations of what God can do. But there is much that the Holy Spirit does in the life of a believer, because He is the Power Source that drives us and helps us, as we walk on in this life. I often ponder about Ephesians 3:20, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think”. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father” (John 14:12). Was all this power just for the first-century church? I don’t think so. Jesus went on to say in the following verse, “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father”. What happens today is imperfect, but we don’t give up aspiring to receive the Holy Spirit gifts, as we await the coming of the Perfect. 

“Come Lord Jesus”

There can only be one such Time, and that is the return of Jesus to this world. Ultimately, this Time is described in Revelation 21:1-2, 6 , “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband”, … “And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life”. Jesus will return to this world one day; we don’t know when, but we do know the manner of His return and where it will happen. Acts 1:11, ““Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!””. So if we had a video of Jesus rising into the clouds on the day of His Ascension, a replay in reverse would show us His return. Revelation 1:7 continues the theme, “Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen!”

In the new Heaven and the new earth, Perfection will be with us, forever. And so we pray, echoing the last recorded words of Jesus in Revelation 22:20, “He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!”

Dear Lord Jesus. We echo the words of John, when he wrote, “Come Lord Jesus!” We honour You, the Perfect, today. Amen.



‭‭

Christmas Day 2025

Posted on by korgrocker

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and for ever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
Isaiah 9:6-7 NIVUK

When we pilgrims celebrate Christmas, we are celebrating far more than a holiday, tradition, or season. Christmas is the story of God fulfilling His promises, drawing near to His people, and sending the Saviour the world had been longing for. It is a time to slow down, open the Scriptures, and let the Word of God remind us why the birth of Jesus matters so deeply. Christmas is rooted not in sentiment, tinsel, turkey and trivia, but in Scripture—God’s living testimony of His love. Long before the manger, God promised that a Saviour would come. For believers everywhere, Christmas is the fulfilment of these ancient prophecies. Isaiah declared, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Centuries later, Matthew quoted this verse when he wrote, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet” (Matthew 1:22). This is why Christians celebrate Christmas with such awe: it is a divine reminder that God is faithful. Every detail of Jesus’ birth echoes God’s promise-keeping nature.

“Immanuel, God with us”

At the heart of Christmas is the name Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Matthew writes, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (Matthew 1:23). This truth is central to Christian faith: God did not remain distant. He came close. The Gospel of John describes this mystery with breathtaking words: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14). The God who created the universe stepped into time, wrapped Himself in humanity, and lived among His people. For us pilgrims, Christmas means that God understands our struggles, walks beside us, and never leaves us alone.

The Saviour Has Come

Christmas is the celebration of the Saviour’s arrival. The angel told Joseph, “You are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus’ very name means “The Lord saves.” Christians believe that the manger points toward the cross. From the moment of His birth, Jesus came with a mission: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). The birth of Christ is God’s announcement of salvation, not just for a nation, but for the whole world. The angels proclaimed this good news to the shepherds: “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people… a Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10 11). This is the heart of Christmas joy: salvation has come, wrapped not in royal garments but in swaddling clothes.

Light in the Darkness

We see Christmas as the arrival of God’s light into a dark world. Isaiah foretold, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). Jesus later confirmed this prophetic promise: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). For believers facing discouragement, grief, or uncertainty, Christmas proclaims hope. The Light has come, and “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

Peace on Earth

One of the most cherished themes of Christmas is peace—God’s peace offered to humanity through Jesus. When the angels announced Jesus’ birth, they praised God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests” (Luke 2:14). This peace is not temporary or shallow. It is the peace Jesus promised His followers: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (John 14:27). For us, Christmas renews the promise of a peace that anchors the heart in every season of life.

A Call to Worship

Every figure in the Christmas story responds to Jesus with worship. The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem, where “they found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger” (Luke 2:16). Then “the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God” (Luke 2:20). The wise men traveled from afar asking, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2). When they found Jesus, “they bowed down and worshiped Him” (Matthew 2:11). Christians today join in that same worship—lifting their voices, their hearts, and their lives in adoration of the newborn King.

Christmas shapes how Christians live. Scripture calls believers to reflect the heart of Christ: “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11). The generosity, humility, and compassion seen in Jesus’ birth become daily invitations to walk in His footsteps.

Because God came near, we draw near to others.
Because Christ brought light, we shine that light.
Because the Saviour came, we share His good news

For Christians, the meaning of Christmas is summed up in one verse: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son” (John 3:16). Christmas is God’s love in action—His promise fulfilled, His presence revealed, His salvation offered, His light shining, His peace given. It is the story of a God who came near so that we could come home.

Dear Lord Jesus. Thank You for coming to this world, and we celebrate Your coming today, this Christmas Day. We pray for our friends and families today that the real meaning of Christmas will penetrate through the day’s distractions. In Your precious name. Amen.

Love is …

Posted on by korgrocker

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT

We read the list of qualities that describe true agape love and wonder how we can ever live up to them. But intuitively, we know that if we behave with love towards our fellow human beings, we will transform our sad and troubled world into a Utopia, a perfect society, with ideal laws, government, and social conditions, free from suffering, conflict, and greed, all because it is based on God’s Kingdom principles. But Paul wrote about love to the Corinthian church, which at the time seemed to reflect the opposite of God’s Kingdom living with its selfish behaviour. Earlier, we considered 1 Corinthians 6, where Paul remonstrated with the believers in Corinth for taking each other to secular courts to settle disputes. Then we read in 1 Corinthians 11:20-21, “When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper. For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk”. They had turned the Lord’s Supper into a meal of sorts, with those who were able to bring food and drink refusing to share it with those who were poor and lacked the necessary resources. Where were Paul’s teachings on love in all of that?

“Love is patient and kind”

These are verses that should be applied to our relationships with family members, both natural and spiritual. We should examine the way we treat others through the lens God has provided, as seen through Paul’s eyes, of the qualities required of believers everywhere. There is much to be written about each listed feature, but little to be gained by such an approach. All believers are obliged to sit down and dwell on how they treat others in the light of 1 Corinthians 13. I recall a family wedding that I attended, where the mother of the bride recited these verses during the ceremony. They sounded great and struck a chord of agreement with those present witnessing the marriage service, but what happened afterwards is another story. As we think of people we know, we often find many who irritate or hurt us. We know the boasters, the arrogant, the proud and the ignorant. We read the papers and soon find reports of injustices. Further afield, we read of wars and strife, intolerance and persecution, betrayals and so on. Enough to provide a stark comparison of opposites – God’s way of love and the devil’s way of pursuing evil and hatred. 

But isn’t it strange that we always look to others to love in the way Paul described? Instead, we should look inward at ourselves. Human beings are quick to observe what others are doing wrong, but rarely apply the same rules to themselves. We sit in judgment of others but forget what Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-2, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged”. 

In our churches and fellowships, there will be many opportunities to apply 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 to the relationships we have with others. Jesus summed up the driving force behind these verses with His words in John 15:12-13, “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”. And so today, we look beyond the faults of others and instead ask ourselves how Jesus would have behaved. After all, His love was such that He truly laid down His life for His friends. But more than that, Jesus loved the world so much that He died for everyone, past, present and future. Why? So that He could spend eternity with them, and save them from eternal life in a place without Him. That’s love, perfect love, just as Paul described and more. 

Dear Lord Jesus. You loved us so much that You died for us, so that through You our sins would be forgiven. Amen.

Tongues and Love

Posted on by korgrocker

“So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all. If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”
1 Corinthians 12:31-13:3 NLT

“a noisy gong or
a clanging cymbal“

In the Corinthian church, it is believed that the believers there regarded highly all the tongue-speakers and those who could interpret the messages that came through the speaking in tongues. But Paul, at the start of 1 Corinthians 13, pointed out that such a gift was worthless unless it was used in a way that showed love for others. He was saying that no matter how good and accurate the message was, if delivered in a hurtful way that showed a lack of love, then it would not have any useful impact on the life of the church, or for the intended recipient, come to that. In fact, he was saying, it might have the opposite effect to that intended. Paul went further to describe how anyone, even with a perfect understanding of “God’s secret plans” or with a faith so deep that mountains could be physically moved, if they had no love for those around them, then their knowledge and faith were worthless. And he continued to labour his point with a reference to those who did wonderful philanthropic acts or even sacrificed themselves; this was also worthless without love. 

In our churches and fellowships today, there is not the same prevalence of the use of spiritual gifts. For example, it has been some years since I have heard a public message in tongues followed by an interpretation, even though I currently attend a Pentecostal church. However, in the days of the Corinthians, this was apparently commonplace to the extent that messages were coming one after another. There are those, of course, who deny that speaking in tongues today is valid, and a friend of mine who attends a Baptist church told me that should anyone bring such a message in tongues, then they would be closed down straight away. But the gift of tongues did not end in the first century, as some believe. In a place called Azusa Street, in Los Angeles, the Pentecostal movement was birthed, and tongue speaking was a feature of the revival there in the early part of the 20th Century. Since then, tongues in a public setting have been present from time to time, such as more recently in the Charismatic Renewal of the 70’s and 80’s, and should not be discounted. God is sovereign, and He will grant gifts as He sees fit to individuals who are open and willing to obey the move of the Holy Spirit within them. 

Love and the spiritual gifts
go hand in hand

However, the point Paul was making concerned love, agape love, which must essentially infuse our churches and fellowships. Anything else that happened, no matter how spiritual and wonderful it was, was of no good without love. I suppose, though, we could turn this around and equally say that a church with only love and no manifestations of the spiritual gifts was equally impoverished. Before believers can show love to one another, there needs to be a pastor and teacher showing them the why and the how. Biblical teaching is a necessary part of growing in love. Similarly, a prophetic message, whether from the pulpit or through the gift of prophecy, may highlight a situation where a manifestation of love is required. An evangelist is another gift of the Holy Spirit to the church, motivating the congregation to show Jesus’ love to the world beyond the church walls. And of course, we must not forget that the person in a wheelchair or in pain with an illness of some kind needs the love expressed through the Holy Spirit’s gift of healing and miracles. Love and the spiritual gifts go hand in hand and will work together to build up the church, making it more like Jesus intended.

So if we pilgrims were to gauge our prowess in love and the spiritual gifts on a scale of 1 to 10, where would we be? Good question, I’m sure you agree, but perhaps a difficult and painful one to answer. It’s much easier not to ask at all. We pray for God to continue to work in our lives. Yes, we will fall down from time to time. Yes, we will occasionally bottle it when a prophetic word comes to mind. Yes, we will fail to love someone as we should. But God will never give up on us, and He cheers us on when we fall. As we keep close to Jesus, we will find help in our hour of need.

Dear Father God. It is hard sometimes to love the unlovely, but that is what You have asked us to do. Please help us, we pray. Amen.

The Better Way

Posted on by korgrocker

So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all. If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”
1 Corinthians 12:31-13:3 NLT

Paul suggests to the believers in Corinth that they should “earnestly desire the most helpful gifts”. We know that in the previous two verses, he listed apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, those who speak in tongues, and those who can interpret messages given in tongues, but these are not the only gifts necessary to help a local church or fellowship function. So what are the “most helpful gifts”? If we pause for a moment and think of our expectations prior to attending church on a Sunday, what comes to mind? Social interactions? A chance to worship God in a corporate setting? Or something else? One important benefit of going to church is that there we will hear what God wants the people in the congregation to hear. Some helpful teaching that will help us on our journey, perhaps. Or a prophetic challenge to unconfessed sin. Or a directional word from a visiting apostle. Perhaps these are the most helpful gifts. But we mustn’t minimise the other gifts.

“earnestly desire the most helpful gifts”

There may be someone in our congregation who needs a miracle, perhaps for healing or some other reason. But whatever the “most helpful gifts” are, Paul encouraged the Corinthians to “earnestly” seek them. In our churches today, how can we determine which gifts are the most helpful for us individually? We will only find out by seeking God in prayer, persevering until He provides an answer. And we know from the example of Moses, it might be many years before God finally blesses us with a greater gift. A person’s character must be able to handle one of the Holy Spirit’s gifts.

Paul then teased his audience with the thought that there is something else, that is good, or even better. This is “a way of life that is best of all”. We have to turn the page and read one of the most well-known chapters in the New Testament. It’s all about love. Not the sloppy or sentimental “love” that we often find on our screens and in books. Paul used the word “agape” when writing in this chapter, referring to the love that churches need to bind themselves together. A more detailed definition is: “Agape is a Greek term for a selfless, unconditional, and spiritual form of love that seeks the well-being of others without expecting anything in return. It is often associated with the love of God for humanity and is demonstrated through sacrifice, such as the Christian belief that Jesus died for the sins of others. In a broader sense, it refers to a profound love that is not dependent on emotion or circumstance and extends to all people, even enemies”. 

“To love one another“

Paul starts 1 Corinthians 13 with the thought that it doesn’t matter what language we use; if what we say isn’t said in love, then it is just noise. The Apostle John wrote much about love, and we read a bit from 1 John 2:7-8, “Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather, it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining. “To love one another” was at the heart of John’s message to the churches that read his epistle, and that message has resonated with congregations ever since. Many difficulties in churches today can often be traced to a lack of love. Yes, the liturgies can be wonderful. The minister may be a gifted speaker. The worship band and the songs sung can lift the congregation’s spirits right to the rafters. But at the end of the service, and in too many churches, everyone leaves to go to their homes, and none of the issues that a loving church should be dealing with are even considered or prayed about. Hurting people come to church, and the same hurting people leave it at the end of the service, hurt intact and people still hurting. 

And so we pilgrims, look out for those in our churches who may be struggling with some issue or another. We must not rely on their openness, or lack of it, when we mingle with the congregation before and after a meeting. We ask our Heavenly Father to reveal to us those people who He knows have a need, and we remain open to being the ones who meet the need. That’s what the love that Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 13 is all about.

Dear Heavenly Father. We know that attending church is not just about singing hymns and saying prayers. We seek Your heart for those around us, and pray that Your love will prevail through us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Diversity

Posted on by korgrocker

“Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not!”
1 Corinthians 12:29-30 NLT

Paul finally makes the point that there has to be a variety of gifts in the Body of Christ, a point he earlier made in 1 Corinthians 12:17, using the analogy of a human body. “If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?” For a human body to function, all the different organs have to work together to ensure that the body works as it should. Such a point is so simple that it is often overlooked when applied to the Body of Christ. In my experience, there has been a tendency for certain people, particularly in independent Charismatic churches, to desire an up-front ministry. This seems to be the case with musicians, or aspiring musicians, who think they have a gift for being a worship leader. However, in other examples, there have been some who wish to be an elder, or even a pastor or teacher, when they neither possess the required gifting nor is there a vacancy to fill. Paul reminded the Corinthians that not everyone would have the same gifts, implying that if they did, this would result in a lopsided and dysfunctional church. In fact, Paul’s final word on this issue, in reply to his several “Do we all have ..” questions, was rather scathing – “Of course not!”.

There was an occasion when the mother of two of Jesus’ disciples, James and John, asked Him a favour. ““What is your request?” [Jesus] asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honour next to you, one on your right and the other on your left”” (Matthew 20:21). Jesus used this as a learning example to teach His disciples about servanthood. He went on to say, “ … “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave” (Matthew 20:25b-27). In John 13, we read about the occasion when Jesus taught His disciples about servanthood by washing their feet. We know the story well, and He finished by saying, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John 13:13-15). 

We return to the Holy Spirit’s gifts of ministry, as listed by Paul. There is an attitude of heart behind each one of them that starts with servanthood, with the understanding that a particular ministry is not for the person’s benefit, but for the benefit of the church. And in the act of service, there is a need to put others before oneself. With a diversity of gifts, the church is able to function, but then only with the right attitude of serving the body in the best way possible. 

“God does not call those who are equipped; He equips those whom He has called.” 

Smith Wigglesworth

We pilgrims must ask ourselves what our particular gifts are, and couple this with what God requires for the place where He wants us to be. There may not be a position vacant for the particular gift we think God has given us, but there may be a place where we can serve. I always remember the story of Smith Wigglesworth, a Pentecostal evangelist active in the first half of the twentieth century. He spent many years giving out hymnbooks before he was called to the ministry, in which he was so effective. Moses spent forty years caring for his father-in-law’s sheep before, at the age of eighty, God called him to return to Egypt and lead the Israelite slaves to the Promised Land. Sometimes we have a tendency to get ahead of God, when instead He wants us to develop our character to the point where our gifting will become effective. So we pray and ask God to lead and guide us in His ways, always in the knowledge that He knows what is best for us.

Dear Father God. We thank You for the diversity of the gifts that populate Your church. Please help us find the place where You want us to be an effective member of Your Body. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Appointments

Posted on by korgrocker

“All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages.”
1 Corinthians 12:27-28 NLT

At the end of a long chapter about spiritual gifts, written in reply to a previous question from the Corinthians believers, Paul lists “some of the parts God has appointed for the church”. God gives each believer at least one gift through the Holy Spirit, who, as we know, dwells within each believer as a result of their salvation. In much of 1 Corinthians 12, Paul used the analogy of a human body to make a comparison with the Body of Christ, the church. And we now get to the point where Paul emphasises to the believers in the Corinthian church that they all constitute the Body of Christ. Just in case any of them felt left out, he wrote that each member of the church is a member of the Body, without exception. 

“If the Holy Spirit left our church, would we notice any difference?”

Today, we have many churches, some thriving, some in the process of being born, but, sadly, others coming to a point where they will soon die and disappear, all much as we would expect from human life. Churches are organic entities, kept alive by the power of the Holy Spirit within them, and when they deny His presence, their life starts to dwindle. Someone once asked, “If the Holy Spirit left our church, would we notice any difference?” And it is true – churches get locked into a liturgy and become a sort of religious social club, lacking any particular relevance in today’s world. Paul wrote to Timothy with a warning about such Spirit-less churches, “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” (2 Timothy 3:5). 

Next, in the verses we are considering today, Paul went on to list “some of the parts God has appointed for the church”. We should note that he did not supply a complete list of the gifts given to the Church, but just those that are more obvious. There is one notable up-front role missing, and that is the role of a pastor. In Ephesians 4:11-12, Paul wrote, “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ”. However, it would neither be helpful nor necessary to provide a long list of all the functions and jobs necessary in a church or fellowship. Each body of believers is unique, as is a human body, and although some roles are common to all, many more are a reflection of the local needs. The Amplified version of 1 Corinthians 12:28 reads, “So God has appointed and placed in the church [for His own use]: first apostles [chosen by Christ], second prophets [those who foretell the future, those who speak a new message from God to the people], third teachers, then those who work miracles, then those with the gifts of healings, the helpers, the administrators, and speakers in various kinds of [unknown] tongues”. 

We should also note that any one role is no more important than any other. God does not do favouritism. So, an apostle is no more important than a teacher, who is no more important than a helper or administrator, or even the person who cleans the toilets. All roles are necessary for the church to function in the way God intends. 

“The church is God’s hands, mouth, and feet in this world—the body of Christ:.

Some might ask the question, “What is the purpose of the Church”? A quotation from “gotquestions.org” might be helpful. “So, what is the purpose of the church? Paul gave an excellent illustration to the believers in Corinth. The church is God’s hands, mouth, and feet in this world—the body of Christ. We are to be doing the things that Jesus Christ would do if He were here physically on the earth. The church is to be “Christian,” “Christ-like,” and Christ-following”. To do all of these things, we need Holy Spirit gifts functioning in the church. Without them, the Body of Christ will not survive for long. And we remember we all have at least one gift to edify the Body of Christ.

Dear Father God. Through Your Son Jesus, You have established Your church. We thank You for the gifts given to our churches and fellowships, and pray that Your church will continue to grow, for Your glory. Amen.