LOVE
"Yet mere knowledge causes people to be puffed up--to bear themselves loftily and be proud; but love, [that is] affection and goodwill and benevolence, edifies and builds up and encourages one to grow [to his full stature . . ." (1 Corinthians 8: 1-3; 13AMP).
Volumes upon volumes have been written on chapter 13 of the first letter to the Corinthian church. The apostle Paul had been a recipient of God's love and an exerciser of loving the brethren. Every thing he did was motivated by love of Christ and God the Father. Paul labored to fulfill the command of Christ: "love one another; just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another-- if you keep on showing love among yourselves" (John 13:34-35).
Paul uses a practical example from the everyday life of the Corinthians to help them understand divine love and be able to put it into practice--[that is, food, more specifically, food offered to idols]. As Paul points out in verse 9, a new freedom has come to us through Jesus Christ--"the power of choice." But,. in obedience to the command of Christ (to love one another), we are to be careful "that this power of choice--this permission and liberty to do as you please--which is yours, does not [somehow] become a hindrance (cause of stumbling) to the weak or over-scrupulous [giving them an impulse to sin]." True love for another restrains self-indulgence and self-gratification in order to benefit him or her. It may even cause us to lay down our lives for another, like Christ Jesus did for us.
To live for Christ in a corrupt society, we must love each other (fellow Christ- followers) with His love that He has shown us. This will be our greatest testimony! Think about it.
© S.M. Hudson, Hidden Treasure Ministries, December 2003. All rights reserved.
Categories: forgiveness
