Most Excellent Way
The Spirit of God, through the apostle Paul’s pen, tells you and me, this…concerning “the most excellent way” to love : ( 1 Corinthians 13:1:4-8 )… He starts off telling us how he/we could be doing everything else right, but if we weren’t doing it in love, we were “nothing” but alotta noise, and we would gain nothing ( verses 1-3 ). Before we get into this “excellent way” to love, let’s consider the “not-so-excellent” ways we love. We tell our kids, “Love you”, as they depart for school…but did we pray out loud for them to receive all the knowledge and wisdom that would be provided them from those who God has placed in their facilities ? Did we leave them with sound instructions to do everything as if for the Lord, and not just for personal gain or to please their teachers and coaches ( Colossians3:17 )? Did they know that Jesus would provide angels to watch over them, for their safety, therefore, they wouldn’t need to waste time being afraid ( Matthew 18:10 ) ? If we loved them “excellently”, they would. What about our spouses ? We tell em we love em all the time; right ? RIGHT !?? So why is it we wind up hollerin at em in anger or frustration, instead of holding our tongues until we considered a calmer response ? Why do we try to manipulate every scenario to fit what “we” want…when God’s clearly stated, “ Consider others and their needs as more important than yourself and your own”( Philippians 2:3 ) ? Why do we say, “I love you” one minute and fight like cats and dogs, the next !?? What about those “other folks” in our life ? We’re all the time throwin out a, “love you” or “love y’all”, and when they call, the first thing we do is grumble or mutter an expletive and give that eye-roll, wondering if we should answer. Loving someone “excellently” ain’t easy; is it ? I’d go so far as to say it’s “impossible”, without the Holy Spirit involved. He not only provides the supernatural power ( Acts 1:8 ), He provides the resources. Me and Pennye Jacobs Lewis have enjoyed this firsthand many many times. Our love for each other has stood many a storm and hardship, but our Anchor holds ! We attribute our 41 years of marriage, to His grace and mercy. Every minute of it may not’ve been “blissful”, but they were “beneficial”. He’s taught us many lessons along the journey…and one of em is that He is faithful, even when we ain’t ( 2 Timothy 2:13 ). Now, to this ”excellent way” of expressing Christ-like love … “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it ain’t proud or rude or self-seeking. It’s not easily angered and it dont keep a record of wrongs. Love doesn’t delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. Love never fails ( verses 4-8 ). Me and Pennye don’t get it right alotta times, but we know where reconciliation begins…and that’s where we start… asking God to heal the hurt we’ve caused because we strayed from His “excellent way” of loving. Forgiveness MUST accompany this excellent love … without it, the anger and envy and resentment will fester and infect. If God’s ways are higher than ours ( Isaiah 55:8-9 ), shouldn’t we adapt to em and let our old ways go ? If we’d focus more on showing this “excellent way” of loving, to those we say we love, our homes would be a more pleasant place to hang out…our businesses, a better place to work…and our gatherings, a more pleasurable place to congregate. Let’s resolve to try it more, under the direction of the Spirit of God. He’s not only the Author and Perfector of our faith, He’s also the Author and Perfector of our “love”. ( Hebrews 12:2 )