This Sunday we come to one of the most famous sections of 1 Corinthians, chapter 13. The love chapter. You’ve probably heard this chapter, or sections of it, read at more weddings than you can count. And while that’s completely understandable (the love of a husband and wife for each other ought to look like this), the context for Paul’s extended reflection on love is the use of spiritual gifts by every member of the body of Christ. As John Calvin begins his commentary on chapter 13, he writes:

“Gifts, otherwise excellent, come to have their true value only when they are made subservient to love.”

As Paul will say, the absence of love can render spiritual gifts worthless or worse. A hammer can be wonderful building tool or a destructive weapon depending upon the intent and use of the one swinging it. Love makes all the difference.

The love that Paul spells out for us in chapter 13, Jesus lived out for us as recorded in the gospels. He is only one who perfectly loved (and loves!) us like this. And “we love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).”

Jackson Randall will be preaching this week and Kenny Clark will be leading our sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare? And pray for our Grace family that as we continue to receive Christ’s perfect love for us that we would be living echoes of His heartbeat.

See you on livestream, Grace! Come hungry.

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SONG LINK OF THE WEEK

Love Never Fails – Songs of Grace

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

Gentle and Lowly – by Dane Ortlund

Christians know what Jesus Christ has done—but who is he? What is his deepest heart for his people, weary and faltering on their journey toward heaven? Jesus said he is “gentle and lowly in heart.” This book reflects on these words, opening up a neglected yet central truth about who he is for sinners and sufferers today.