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Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Raise your hand if these verses were read at your wedding…

Yes, my hand went up.

We often use this as a description of love between a husband and wife — but that is not its intent. This kind of love — agape in Greek — more broadly applies to an “unconditional love.” It’s not just romantic, it’s not just being a sibling or a child, it’s not just being nice to others. It’s about caring so deeply that it never changes and it consumes you. It’s your duty and calling.

The standard for agape love is how we are loved by God. Unconditionally. It never changes. Sacrificial to the extreme. That’s a standard that I can only dream to exhibit toward my wife… Let alone more generally.

We toss around “love” quite plainly. I “love” cinnamon scones. Really? Certainly not “love” in this way!

Challenge yourself to think about this standard for love. Of course we fall short… But how do we get closer?

Be God’s — every day.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

This verse gets used a lot to talk about sexual purity. While that is certainly one element of honoring God with our bodies, it’s unlikely the only intent here.

Too often we fail to nurture our entire self. We might be in great shape, but have not enriched our lives through learning. We may be very well spiritually fed, but also too well physically fed. We may pursue wisdom at the expense of faith in God.

We are God’s — every part of us. We are asked to be good stewards of all our resources, and our own bodies are part of that. So while I generally think I could do a better job of honoring God with my body had he made me 6’8, a strapping 240 who can also run a sub-5 40… Honoring God means I have to do what I can with what he created.

Be God’s — every day.

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
1 Corinthians 1:10, 12-15, 17

This isn’t a random verse… This was brought on by a simultaneously uplifting and maddening exchange with a youth last week.

There is a dangerous power that can exist in the church. Whether it be around politics or theology, there are times when Christians won’t be on the same page. I’ve personally seen (and admittedly been a part of) issues where we become divided.

Paul points out above that being a Christian isn’t about division. Christ was not divided. And we are not disciples of any particular issue or viewpoint. We follow Jesus, not the views of any particular person or political party.

Many of us greatly admire our Pastor — as do I. For me, it is far more often than not that I agree with everything he teaches. But of course there are times when I might not be on the same page. In these times, I need to remember that he is trying to teach me about life in Christ. We may disagree, but we are both after the same thing: living like Jesus. I believe Pastor Mike knows his role is not about himself — it’s about helping us all be like Jesus.

I pray that everyone can see “church” for what it is: a family of people trying to be like Jesus. We may not agree on all things. But, as Paul says, we should of one mind and thought when it comes to following Jesus.

Be God’s — every day.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

This afternoon my older brother Mark will get married. It’s certainly an exciting day for him. Since Kim and my anniversary just passed last weekend, memories of my wedding are pretty fresh as well.

Weddings are pretty crazy. Lots of pomp and circumstance, a ton of checklists and check writing, and never enough time to get everything done. I remember how much of a relief it was to finally get to the “first dance” at the reception. That was the first time I felt like it was just us, where we could forget about the 200-plus people in the room.

On Mark’s big day I wish him peace among the hustle. I pray that love would surround him and Breanna today and after today, that he might find the happiness that love can bring.

Love is a gift from God, created so that we might feel something like what he feels for us. Thanks be to God for that!

Be God’s — every day.

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44

This passage presents a startling image. Comparing an after-death buried body to a body resurrected to eternal life, we get a glimpse of Paul’s vision of eternity.

Our bodies tend to break down — we just weren’t made to last here on earth. From what I see and read (and feel, to an extent), the prime of our physical body occurs sometime between age 22 and 30. We spend most of our lives dealing with our bodies breaking down in some fashion.

The good news is that all changes upon death. We are renewed in spiritual bodies that live forever. Take heart that the pains of this world are temporary, merely a flash in the pan compared to a life everlasting.

Be God’s — every day.

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
1 Corinthians 1:26

The Corinthians were arguing about who was better within their midst. Paul wrote these words to remind them of their roots.

God generally doesn’t use us when we think we are worthy of being used. He calls us when we are unprepared and insecure. There is a reason that less than 5% of “born again” Christians say they became Christians because if a Pastor… Because more than 50% became believers based on a relationship with a Christian friend. Many of us may feel unqualified to share the Gospel. Truth is, that’s when God is most likely to use us.

We must trust in God — not ourselves — to do great things. When we may not feel ready, we must be ready to heed God’s call.

Be God’s — every day.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

When you are around teenagers as much as I am, you tend to get the “what does it mean to fall in love” question. Thankfully the Bible has a better answer than the Haddaway song.

The letter to the Corinthians paints a beautiful picture of what love is supposed to be. My short version is “love is when the other person is more important than yourself.”

Let this Valentine’s Day be a day of putting the needs of those you love ahead of your own. Flowers and chocolate are nice, and probably a necessary thing… But let it be more than that.

Be God’s — every day.

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:11

The laundry list of sins preceding this verse was startling. The passage from Mark we looked at yesterday is a good representation. And in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he calls them out for what they are — or were, actually.

For all the sinning we do, the saving power of Christ washes us clean. We are justified, “just if I’d” never sinned (full disclosure: I borrowed that line from someone else — I’m not that clever).

That’s how clean we become as part of the community of sinners set apart by Christ. Just as if we had not sinned. We are made new — perfect, one might say — through the death of Christ.

Be God’s — every day.