The More Excellent Way


There are many lessons taught from the Bible that when they are heard, they are always relevant. Two of those lessons are offense and love. Offense because the Bible says in Luke 17:1 "...“ It is impossible that no offenses should come..." This is a fundamental teaching, yet believers struggle with overcoming offenses. The other, which is love, is always relevant because one of the ways to overcome offense is through love.

Today, let's look at this timeless message of love.

1 Corinthians 12:31 says, "But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way." The "more excellent way" in this verse is love. It is love that overcomes offenses and enables us to live in such a way that God will always be glorified. It is love that is at the fiber of all sonship (mature, kingdom minded) relationships with the heart set upon pleasing the Father and fulfilling His kingdom purposes.

Since love is the more excellent way, first and foremost we must repent for not walking in love. Once that is done, it is clear that the mindset of "I love the Lord, but don't like the brethren," is false and needs to be corrected. A Christian cannot love the Lord and not like His children. This is an oxymoron. However, it presents the question of, "How then, do I love people I don't like?" It's simple. Pray!

Prayer does three things that will change your heart toward someone who has offended you or someone you don't like. First it will enable you to see them as God sees them. Second, it will impregnate you with His love for that person and finally, it will empower you to love like He loves. Prayer is the key to loving like God, but in order to pray, for this kind of love, the Father has to reveal His heart to you on this matter. You need, I need, we all need a revelation from the Father that love IS the more excellent way!

Since love is the more excellent way, let me leave you with what the Word says about love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. Here it is in the Amplified Bible.

Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing. Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self- seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

Meditate on these verses this week, paying close attention to what love does and doesn't do. Ask the Father to give you the revelation so that you can love like He loves. Then, you will be a living epistle of His love, showing everyone that love IS the more excellent way.

Love, peace and blessing,

Dr. Sheila

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