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Timothy: I Corinthians 13:8-13
The Way of Love – Part 2

Dear God, my Beloved Father, I respectfully offer my praise and gratitude to You. You are the Almighty God and my Father in Heaven. I thank You for allowing me to still live in this earthly body and for giving me the opportunity to continue participating in the building of the Church. I am grateful to You for the Eternal Living Word of God that is always available to nourish my soul each day. I pray that Christ may grant me renewed strength in my physical body and that the Holy Spirit may bestow wisdom on my spirit. I give thanks to the Triune God.

Father, I would like to present my reflections on I Corinthians 13:8-13, as follows:

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Verse 8: When Christ takes the Church out of the world, all the positions established by God in the Church and all the spiritual gifts bestowed upon the people of God in the Church will pass away. At that time, the Church will be fully matured in Christ, and the work of building and developing the Church will come to an end. Even the current understanding of the people of God will pass away, for each person will have complete knowledge. That is when the love of God in each individual will fulfill the purpose that God has ordained for them. Everyone will truly know how to love as God loves and will be completely enveloped in His love. This also means that before the arrival of Christ, the positions in the Church and the spiritual gifts bestowed upon the people of God will still be necessary, for the Church is still in the process of being built and developed. All the positions and spiritual gifts are essential for the Church.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Verses 9 and 10: In this life, no matter how much knowledge a person has, they cannot have complete understanding. No matter how much a person prophesies, they cannot fully express the wonders of God and His Word because they lack complete understanding. However, when the salvation of that person is made complete, meaning when their physical body is transformed or resurrected, then they will have complete understanding. What is incomplete in them will no longer exist.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Verse 11: While a person is still living in this perishable physical body, their understanding and actions are limited and incomplete. However, when they are given a new, glorious, immortal physical body, they will have complete understanding and act with fullness. The current body and understanding of the people of God can be compared to those of a child, while the future body and understanding of the people of God can be compared to those of an adult. Therefore, the people of God will be able to co-reign with Christ in the Thousand-year Kingdom and in the Everlasting Kingdom of God.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Verse 12: “Now” refers to the time when the people of God are living in perishable physical bodies. “Face to face” refers to the moment when the physical bodies of the people of God are transformed or resurrected and they are presented before the Triune God. Currently, the understanding of the people of God is limited, but when they come face-to-face with God, their understanding will be complete. This is especially true regarding our understanding of God.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Verse 13: “Now” refers to the period when the Church is being built and developed on earth. Faith, hope, and love are the three characteristics that exist within the people of God in the present age until they transition from this life. But the greatest of these is love, for it is the nature of God and endures forever. In the future, the people of God will no longer need faith, as they will be face-to-face with God and know Him fully. They will also no longer need hope, as every promise of God will be fulfilled. However, they will still need to be loved, and they will continue to love, loving God, loving others, and loving all of God’s created beings. At that time, they will be perfect like God, and God is love.

Father, I thank You for this portion of Scripture. The teachings in these verses have brought comfort and encouragement to me, causing my heart to long even more for the coming of Christ. Heavenly Father, I pray for the swift arrival of that day. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Timothy Christian Huynh
05/25/2023