The Most Excellent Way

1 Corinthians 13:1-13
HA! I love this. OK, I just wanted to say that. So, there, I did.

This is getting at the root of some things. As my friend 'Mich' pointed out; we are to use the Good News  to encourage one another, what better way to do it than out of love, and through love and with love?

Did anyone else get stuck at the idea of having an "understanding of all mysteries and all knowledge"? Because I know I stopped there and thought to myself-how would one have an understanding of all mysteries and all knowledge? My guess is-that I couldn't, and so then I wonder about what this means. It isn't until I get to what the "Most Excellent Way" is that I start to get a glimmer. If I have not love; I am nothing. Actions without love are not worth our time. Why would we 'give away all that we have,' if it were not out of love? Perhaps it is for some other reason, like we wish to make a name for ourselves?

Anyway, Paul says to us that without love our actions are not going to have long-lasting results. Yet with love, they are full of life. Verses 4-7 give examples of what love is, yet the how is left up to us to live into and work out in our lives.

Verse 13 is the one I will stick with, it says that "faith, hope and love abide...[and] the greatest of these is love."
I had no control over when I was born or who my parents are. I have little control over where I live, being that this is a function or where I was born, and how I have lived-and the grace that has been afforded me-not to have been injured or sick in ways that have reduced my opportunities. What I am getting at is this: None of what I have is really my own doing, it is all a gift, and when I leave-fall asleep-whatever euphemism we wish to employ, I will do it without anything...except, wait, this says faith, hope and love abide...Abide-stay-continue...

Faith will no longer be needed, resurrection life will be a reality (or it will not-so there is no need for faith) Hope will not be needed (see above comment) but love, it IS. God IS Love, God IS. Love abides. Love continues. Love comes with us. Love is the most excellent way.

See you tomorrow.
-maggie