“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” Everyone has been given different gifts to share in the furthering of his kingdom. Not everyone is a prophet or teacher or apostle, but everyone has been given something they need to bring to the table, to work together as one body. It is not up to one man, but a team of men. Yet, even above all of these gifts, “I will show you a still more excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 (partially paraphrased).
Love is something that we only understand “in part.” It never fades and abides through-out all of time itself. But, we only begin to understand love through a mirror dimly here on earth. Perhaps, slightly clearer in the body of Christ. Although we cannot see the complete picture nor the workings of the Spirit through-out our human frames, we can know that His Love, the love we have received from God, the love that works through us, is His gift.
Love empowers us to do things that nothing else could ever empower us to do. By the grace of God, bought by the blood of Jesus Christ, love allows us to forgive, it allows us to have faith and hope in one another. It allows us to try not to have our own way, but to be considerate of others. It grants us patience and kindness in place of joy at wrong-doing. It is the only thing that makes us more than clanging gongs reaching out to mute ears.
“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Therefore, “let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7-8. This love is not a brotherly love or romantic love, but a holistic love. It is not a communal love (the text doesn’t say to love the body of Christ or work toward the common good), but an individual love (love one another just as I have loved you). This love starts with one. It’s personal and non-hypocritical. Although, our passions may be driving us one way or the other and we might be afraid of the outcome of love… “love hurts” as the cliché goes… love is a command and without love we are nothing. Walk in love. Walk with Christ.
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