YouTube: https://youtu.be/Em8s7PXKzQM

Download Audio: https://od.lk/f/MV8yOTkwNTQwNzhf
Download Video: https://od.lk/f/MV8yOTkwNTM5MjRf
Download PDF: https://od.lk/f/MV8yOTkwNTM4MzBf

Priscilla: I Corinthians 13:1-7
The Way of Love – Part 1

Dear God, my Beloved Father, I humbly offer words of praise and adoration to You. You are the Self-existent and Eternal God, my Father in Heaven. I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ may grant me renewed strength in my physical body each day. I also ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten my spirit as I read and contemplate Your Word.

Father, today I would like to present my meditation on I Corinthians 13:1-7 as follows:

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Verse 1: I understand that even if someone is gifted with the ability to speak multiple human languages and even the language of angels but lacks love, they are only producing meaningless noise.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Verse 2: I understand that even if someone has the gift of prophecy, possesses profound knowledge of all divine truths in the Scriptures, holds great worldly wisdom, and has unwavering faith that can perform miraculous deeds and move mountains but lacks love, they are nothing before God. Even if their actions benefit the Church, without love, they are insignificant.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Verse 3: I understand that even if someone gives away all their possessions to feed the poor but lacks love, their sacrifice holds no value for them. They need to have a heart full of love and compassion for the needy whom they help. I also understand that even if someone sacrifices their lives and remains faithful to their belief in Christ but lacks love, their sacrifice holds no value. They must have genuine love and reverence for God to endure suffering and death for His sake.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Verse 4: I understand that long suffering means enduring with love, being patient and forgiving towards those who have treated us unjustly and caused us harm, and patiently waiting for their repentance.

Kindness means showing compassion and mercy to everyone, helping and assisting others in times of difficulty and distress.

Not being envious means not feeling angry or resentful when seeing others excel in something or when they possess more wealth, fame, or power than us. True followers of the Lord are always joyful and thankful when their brothers and sisters in the Church receive blessings from God.

Not vaunting means not bragging or exaggerating about things we do not possess, which may lead others to have misconceptions about us. It also means not elevating ourselves to diminish others.

Not puffing up means not considering ourselves superior, more intelligent, or better than others to gain admiration and respect from others.

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Verse 5: I understand that not behaving unseemly means not going against God’s commandments or violating human laws that do not contradict the Word of God.

Not being self-seeking means not living selfishly, only seeking personal gain without considering the needs and benefits of others.

Not being easily provoked means not having a quick temper in response to anything that goes against our desires. Those who possess love are quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. They have the ability to calm their hearts and understand the reasons behind others’ actions that may cause them anger, evaluating whether those actions are truly worth being angry about based on the standards of God’s Word. The Bible does not prohibit God’s people from getting angry, but they are not allowed to let their anger linger beyond sunset, meaning they should not prolong their anger into the next day.

Not thinking evil means not judging or having negative suspicions about others when we are not fully aware of whether their actions are right or wrong. We should also not wish for harm to come to our enemies.

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Verse 6: I understand that not rejoicing in iniquity means not finding joy when witnessing people living in sin or any injustice that befalls anyone. Rejoicing in the truth means finding joy in anything that aligns with the Word of God.

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Verse 7: I understand that true love always protects, defends, trusts, hopes, and endures for the ones we love, helping them achieve the good purposes that God has planned for them.

Father, I thank You for allowing me to understand true love. I am grateful to Christ for His immense love and for laying down His life to redeem me from the consequences of my sins. I pledge to live with a grateful heart, deserving of God’s love and redemption. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Priscilla Christian Huynh
05/24/2023