1 Corinthians 13
Rebecca Lightfoot
1Cor13:11 says,”When I was a child,I spoke as a child,I thought like a child,I reasoned like a child.When I became a man,I gave up childish ways.”This comes at the end of what is called “The Love Chapter” of the Bible.Since a theme of 1Cor has been calling out the immaturity within the church at Corinth,and giving them traits of a maturing faith in Christ to seek in their lives,we can kinda get the idea that one of the points being made in this chapter is to show the contrast between a life of immaturity and one that is maturing.In this chapter,Paul is telling us that our maturity, or lack of maturity will be evident in what kind of love we have in our hearts- that will be revealed by our words;our thoughts;&the way we work through challenges&questions we face every day.Verses 4-7 paint the picture of what “mature love” will look like-“Love is patient & kind;love does not envy or boast;it is not arrogant or rude.It does not insist on its own way;it is not irritable or resentful;it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,but rejoices in the truth.Love bears all things,believes all things,hopes all things,endures all things,hopes all things,endures all things.”Smack dab n the middle of 4-7 are the words-“but rejoices IN the truth”(NKJV).I emphasize IN,because by the placement of these 5 words n the middle of 4-7,the implication is thatTHE BEDROCK/FOUNDATION of the RIGHT kind of maturity/The RIGHT kind of heart is THE TRUTH/REJOICING IN THE TRUTH!In other words,there is no way for us to truly become the RIGHT kind of mature unless we have the RIGHT kind of heart/love breathing in and out of our lives...which can only be rooted in our lives by seeking to know and REJOICE in THE TRUTH about all things-which is only found when we seek The Author&Creator of all things!So,when I am NOT patient & NOT kind;envy another, or become boastful or arrogant about anything, &/or behave rudely;or insist on my way;become irritable or resentful;or actually enjoy wrongdoing n any way...I am NOT REJOICING IN THE TRUTH!Even further,if all my “good intentions” are caving under the pressures & challenges of life & the doubts the world throws at THE TRUTHS God Claims & Promises in His Word...then I will loose the RIGHT kind of HOPE/TRUE HOPE that is the only source of Eternal Endurance-I will be the kind of immature that 1Cor is addressing...and the sins described in 1Cor will n some way b a part of my life.N chapter 13,Paul is pleading with the people in Corinth to have their hearts/minds/lives changed by “rejoicing IN the truth”!By having the bedrock/foundation of their hearts/minds/lives be established by God’s Heart as HE loves on them/teaches them through HIS Word&by HIS Spirit!Dear Lord God,my life does not consistently demonstrate the kind of love described in these verses...I need Your Help in changing the way I respond to others(especially those closest to me);in changing or correcting a lot of the thoughts I have that r not right;and I pray for Your help in changing or correcting the decision making processes I apply to challenges & questions every day.I pray for You to TRUE up my whole spirit,soul,& body with Your Word & by Your Spirit.