Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 110 – 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 – Love Never Fails – Growing As Disciples
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 (NIV)
Childish Ways
It’s time. It’s time for what? It’s time to put childish ways of thinking, speaking and acting far behind you. That is, if you want to keep on moving forward with me. Do you want to keep moving forward with me? Yes, I do want to keep on moving forward with you. That is the utmost desire of my heart and mind and life. I want to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. That is very good.
I do have a question. What’s that? What are childish ways of thinking and speaking and acting? That is a very good question that I will ask you to answer. I thought you might say that. Well, you know the answer to your own question. So, it will be good to hear you answer it. I will try. That’s good. I will be listening. Self-centeredness is an example of childish behavior. How so? Life does not revolve around me. Life is not all about me. You want me to love and serve others. Yes, I do. A self-centered attitude will never allow me to love like you loved or give like you gave or serve like you served. No, it will not. Name another childish behavior. Self-reliance is another childish behavior. Why is that? I am not all wise. I am not all knowing. I am not all powerful. I am not, nor will I ever be self-sufficient. I will never be able to live the life you are calling me to live under my own power. No, you will not. Can you name one more childish behavior? Yes, I can. Self-indulgence is another example of childish behavior. Yes, it is. What can you say about self-indulgence? Life is not all about my comfort. Life is not all about my pleasure. You have richly blessed my life. You have given me many good gifts. I have no doubt about that. Yet, you are calling me to love you. You are calling me to love others. Yes, I am. This call will require sacrifice on my part. Giving to others will not always be easy. Giving to others will likely place uncomfortable demands on my life. But, if I am to love you and love others, I will need to put all my childish ways of self-centeredness, self-sufficiency, and self-indulgence far behind me, so I live and love as you did. I will need to follow your example. Will you do that? Will you love like I loved? Will you serve like I served? Will you give like I gave? Will you put all your childish ways behind you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.
Lord, I will put all my childish ways of thinking, speaking and acting behind me. I will allow you to make me wise. I will allow you to make me able to love you and others deeply from my heart. Do your work in me so I can live in ways that are pleasing to you. Amen
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Promises – Day 110 – 1 Corinthians 13-8-12 – Love Never Fails – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide
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