The More Excellent Way: Love
Month 4: Walking in the Spirit · Loving Others
Today's Scripture
Read together: 1 Corinthians 13:1-4, 13
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. … 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.
Memory Verse
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”— 1 Corinthians 12:7 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: 1 Chronicles 8–10
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 117 of 365 — the line of Saul, and a sober end to his story.)The Heart of It
Right after teaching about gifts, Paul says something surprising. He says, "And yet I show you a more excellent way." That's the verse just before today's reading. Then comes the most famous chapter on love ever written. He gets shockingly blunt. He says I could speak in the tongues of angels. I could understand every mystery. I could have faith to move mountains. I could even give everything away. But if I "have not love," it all amounts to "sounding brass or a clanging cymbal" (). In other words, the flashiest spiritual gift in the world, without love, is just noise. Love isn't one more item on the gift list. It's the thing that gives every gift its worth. Gifts are the tools. Love is the reason we pick them up at all.
And Paul makes love wonderfully practical. He says, "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up" (). That's not a feeling that floats over us. It's a way of acting toward real people. It's how you treat your brother who annoys you. It's how you treat your sister who borrowed your stuff. It's how you treat the kid at school nobody likes. It's patient when you'd rather snap. It's kind when you'd rather ignore. It's humble when you'd rather show off. This is why the chapter ends, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (v. 13). One day in heaven, gifts will no longer be needed. But love lasts forever. So as we celebrate the Spirit's gifts this week, here's the anchor. The Spirit's greatest work in you isn't a spectacular gift. It's love that looks like Jesus.
Around the Table
Even cool, amazing things are just noise without love. Love is the very best of all!
Let's do it: Give someone in the family a hug and say, "I love you" — that's better than any trick!
Love is patient and kind — that means waiting your turn and being nice even when it's hard.
Let's talk: Which part of love is hardest for you: being patient, being kind, or not bragging?
Paul says gifts without love are just noise. And love is the one thing that lasts forever.
Let's go deeper: Why do you think God ranks love above even the most impressive spiritual gifts?
💬 Conversation Starter
Can you think of someone really talented who isn't kind? Would you want to be around them? Talent without love gets old fast. Love is what we remember.
🛡️ Defending the Faith
How do we know this kind of self-giving love is real and not just a nice idea? We've seen it. We've seen it most of all in Jesus, who laid down His life for people who didn't deserve it. And we've seen it ever since in His followers, who forgive enemies and care for strangers. A love that costs the giver and blesses the unlovable can't be explained by selfish human nature. It points to God, "for God is love" ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
sits on purpose right between two chapters about spiritual gifts. That's Paul's way of keeping the Corinthians, and us, from worshiping power while neglecting character. This is the whole Pentecostal balance in one chapter. Yes to the gifts, but love is "the more excellent way." For a discipling father, the takeaway is direct. Your home is the lab where your children learn what the Christian life is really about. Is it mostly about impressive experiences, or about Christlike love? They are watching how you treat your spouse when you're tired. They notice whether you apologize. They hear how you speak about people who wronged you. The most Spirit-filled thing you can model isn't a gift on display. It's patient, kind, unenvious, unboastful love, day after ordinary day.
Draws on: Tony Evans, Kingdom Man; Sam Storms, Understanding Spiritual Gifts.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You for all Your good gifts. But most of all, fill us with love. Make us patient and kind to each other, even when it's hard, so we look more like Jesus. In Jesus' name, amen."
Without love, even amazing gifts are just noise. So love is the way I want to walk.