The Narrow Way

It’s easy to become consumed with the mechanics of ministry and service, often overlooking the core of what empowers them—love.

1 Corinthians 13:1 serves as a celestial bell, calling us back to the heart of the gospel: love.

This verse challenges us, as followers of Christ, to evaluate our motivations and the love that should permeate every word and action in our lives.

The Apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, addresses a church that was rich in spiritual gifts but was struggling with division and a lack of love. Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians is a beautiful and poetic description of what true love looks like.

It’s set in the middle of discussions about spiritual gifts, emphasizing that without love, these gifts are meaningless.

1 Corinthians 13:1:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”

Paul reminds us that even the most eloquent words are empty without the sincerity of love.

Application to Our Daily Lives:

1. Examining Our Motivations: We begin by examining our motivations in our speech and actions. Are we speaking and serving out of a selfless love, or are our actions rooted in a desire for personal gain or recognition?

2. Cultivating Love in Our Hearts: We must actively cultivate love in our hearts through prayer and reflection on God’s Word. As we immerse ourselves in the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit shapes us to be more like Christ in our love for others.

3. Valuing Others Above Ourselves: True love, as described by Paul, values others above ourselves. This means actively seeking the well-being of others, even when it costs us something personally.

4. Ensuring Our Words Build Up: We must ensure that our words build up and do not tear down. Speaking in love means choosing words that encourage, comfort, and edify those around us.

5. Reflecting Christ’s Love in Service: In our acts of service, we aim to reflect the sacrificial love of Christ, who gave Himself for us. Our service should be a fragrant offering to God, filled with love for those we are helping.

6. Embracing Love as Our Identity: We embrace love as the hallmark of our identity in Christ. In a world that often values achievement and status, we choose to be known by our love, following the example of Jesus.

7. Spreading Love Beyond Our Comfort Zone: We challenge ourselves to spread love beyond our comfort zones, reaching out to those who are different from us, those who may be difficult to love, and those who are marginalized.

1 Corinthians 13:1 calls us to a higher standard—the standard of love that resonates with the heartbeat of the gospel. As we internalize this verse, let us not be content with merely the form of godliness, but seek the substance that is found in genuine love.

It is our prayer that love becomes the defining feature of our speech and deeds, transforming us and enabling us to touch the lives of others in profound ways.

Let us be united in this pursuit, embodying the love of Christ in all that we do, so that in us, the world may see a living, breathing portrait of divine love in action.