1 Corinthians 13:11-13 

¹¹When 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 the ways of childhood behind me. ¹²For now we see only a 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. ¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

 Agape

We’ve been studying about agape love of God. Let us reflect on personal experience. Has the agape love of God become realistic experience in our life?

This agape love of God becomes more realistic when we actively practice our spirituals gift and get involved in the ministry that the Lord prepared for us.

Meaning: Agape love of God is key factor for us to become light in this dark world. Someone commented: “If Christians behave like the world, how can the world believe in Christianity?” Indeed, our behavior as Christian should reflect the teachings of Christ. This world is filled with difficult challenges of life, but the manner we face our struggles should practically exhibit our Christian beliefs.

How should we behave when we struggle with finances, health, studies, career or relationship? Let’s reflect on what it declares in 1 Corinthians 10:13.

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

The term “temptation” includes problem, calamity, affliction, trial, probation, or testing of fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy, diligence and faithfulness to the Lord. Temptation is anything that may entice, lure or attract us to commit sin. And God allows temptation to evaluate our faith in him. But why do we need testing?

If you were a student, you are given examination to test if you are ready to the next level of education. If you want to drive a car, you need to pass a driver’s road test for officials to know that you will not cause road accidents or distraction. If you buy a car, you should test drive to evaluate if the car is ready to drive.

Similarly, God allows temptations to test us if we are ready for the next level of spirituality. Let’s reflect on what it says in James 1:12, ¹²Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Prayerfully, we seek help from the Holy Spirit. He enables us to persevere and overcome temptation. Is it very easy to avoid worldly temptation? If by the grace of God, we behave according to his will, the Lord himself inspires the hearts of other people to be pleased with us. In short, if God is pleased with us, there will always be people who will be pleased with us. Wonderful! Right?

Let’s reflect on what happened in Genesis 39:20-23, ²⁰While Joseph was there in the prison, ²¹the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. ²²So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. ²³The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

Joseph avoided the temptation of the wife of his master; he was thrown into prison for false accusation. Prison could be very worse situation but Joseph did not waver in his faith. He was innocent; he had all reasons to complain, but Joseph trusted that the Lord God allowed his imprisonment for his own good.

Prison life prepared Joseph to become great leader of Egypt. In prison, Joseph learned to be compassionate for people who are wrongfully accused like him. He also learned how to manage problematic people. God uses difficulties and challenges for good reasons. What is your reason of trusting the Lord?

 1.  Reason

¹¹When 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 the ways of childhood behind me. 

One of the many confusions of parenting is when parents reason and talk to children using lessons for adults. Some parents may even use sermons from the pulpit to reprimand or rebuke children. “Don’t do this; don’t do that; Pastor said, ‘Do this; do that!’” Learn to discern if sermons from the pulpit are languages that children may understand. Most sermons are generally addressed to adults.

Parents: What you heard from the pulpit is not necessarily applicable to children. Learn to identify lessons that are intentionally meant for children. Prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom how to admonish or advice children. Remember that a child thinks like a child; a child reasons like a child.

Now, if you are serious about learning how to teach children, try to serve as assistant to Sunday school teachers for children; you can learn from Sunday school teachers how they teach children. We are advised in Hebrews 5:12-14,

¹²In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! ¹³Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Reflect on your personal life: Are you still infant in your faith or have you grown to be teachers of your belief? Infants in faith are like children who think and behave like children. Children are not bothered about household chores.

In comparison, adults have initiative to carry out their household chores. Church ministries are opportunities for discipleship; we can participate and teach believers to be involved. Involvement in ministries helps us mature spiritually.

Attend fellowship groups and learn more about discipleship processes.

We are advised in 1 Corinthians 14:20, ²⁰Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.

It could be insulting for adults to remind them of their responsibilities, right? When children grow mature, they carry out their chores on their own initiatives.

If you remind older children that they need to brush their teeth or wash utensils they used in eating, they feel insulted, and respond, “I’m not a child anymore.”

They don’t want to be reminded. Why? They want to assume their part as adults.

Similarly, is it an insult to remind you to attend prayer meeting? We mature spiritually as we participate in the ministry. Why do we need to mature spiritually?

Infants live on milk and are prone to stumble. Spiritually infants in faith are prone to commit sin; whereas, when we mature spiritually, we practice to do what is good and avoid what is evil. Now reflect on your spiritual level of maturity.

2.  Reflect

¹²For now we see only a 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.

How do you interpret “seeing a reflection as in a mirror?” At the moment, what we understand about the spiritual world is partial. But as we grow spiritually mature, we now refuse any childish foolishness. Well, how old are you when you have grown mature as responsible adult? Many people say that life begins at 40, why? When we reject childish foolishness, the level of our maturity will improve.

Personally, let us meditate on what King David prayed in Psalm 25:4-7.

⁴Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. ⁵Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. ⁶Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. ⁷Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.

King David resolved to obey whatever the Lord told him. He had matured spiritually and understood that obeying God is far greater life. He admitted that when he’s still teenager, he also had rebellious attitude. His brothers may have observed his rebellious attitude when he was younger. His older brothers in the army rebuked him. Reflect on what it stated in 1 Samuel 17:28-30, ²⁸When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.” ²⁹“Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” ³⁰He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before.

Eliab said, “I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is.”

The young David replied, “What have I done? Can’t I even speak?” He implied like, “Why? Where’s my right to speak?” Can you sense some arrogance in his reply? To speak that way, is it arrogance or disrespect to his older brother, who was probably an officer in the army? When Jewish authorities are speaking, ask permission before you speak, and select your words, “Your Honor! Mr. Chair!”

Reflect on John 18:19-22, ¹⁹The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. ²⁰Jesus replied, “I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. ²¹Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” ²²When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

Even if you are telling the truth but if your manner is not pleasing to their ears, it is still considered as disrespectful among Jewish people. Jewish cultural practices had influenced the first century Christianity. And we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to discern which biblical practices and traditions are useful for our spiritual growth like reflection of the mirror. Scriptural lessons are partial of what would be completely made known to us when the Lord Jesus Christ returns.

Mirror

Personally, what do you normally look at the mirror in the morning? Do you look at the mirror and try to count wrinkles in your skin or your white hair? If you noticed wrinkles in your skin or you have grown many white hairs, does it mean you have grown mature already? What is your basis for maturity?

Together now, let us seriously reflect on what it says in James 1:22-25,

²²Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Listen: The more we practice what we learn from the Scripture, the more we grow mature spiritually, the more we’re blessed by the Lord, and the more we want to obey him more diligently. Do you personally sense eagerness to obey the Lord? If so, you’ve grown mature and don’t want to remain as spiritual infants.

3.  Remain

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

We need of agape love of God whenever we practice our spiritual gifts to be more effective. Of course, we need increase of faith and stronger hope that when Christ returns, he takes us into heaven. But we should explore much of the agape love of God because love is the greatest that we can ever experience.

The term “greatest” implies that there must be great things and greater things that are prepared for us to explore for all eternity in heaven, like faith and hope but to have the agape love of God prevails in us, it is the greatest ever.

So, pray for increase of faith and hope that you may experience great and greater things in heaven, and you would desire all the more to spiritually grow mature. Again participation in church ministry is handy and practical opportunity to practice our spiritual gifts and to explore more of the agape love of God in us.

Did you know that to excel in our career, the Holy Spirit gives abilities and skills? Trivia: Who was the first biblical person to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

Tabernacle

During the building of the Tabernacle or Tent of Meeting, what names were specifically mentioned in the Scripture aside from Moses? Let us reflect on what it narrated in Exodus 31:1-7, ¹The Lord said to Moses, ²“See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, ³and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— ⁴to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, ⁵to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. ⁶Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: ⁷ the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent.

Do you wish your name to be specially mentioned or wish to excel in your career? Prayerfully asked God to fill you with the Holy Spirit, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge, and with all kinds of skills related to your career.

God filled Bezalel with his Holy Spirit; he gave practical skill to complete the Tabernacle. And the name of Bezalel was particularly mentioned, but why the names of his father and grandfather were also mentioned? Probably, they trained and disciplined him so well. Oholiab and his father were also mentioned. And to suggest a share in their successful accomplishment, their tribes were mentioned.

Likewise, parents have significant role to encourage children to be active participants in church ministries, and the church share in the joy of witnessing spiritual maturity growth among our church members. Amen! Hallelujah!

Seriously now, let us reflect on what Christ declared in John 16:21-22,

²¹A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. ²²So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 

Truly, waiting for Christ to return attracts painful challenges. We pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit and have joy, peace, patience, hope and firm confidence that when Christ returns, we enter heaven. What do you expect to do in heaven?

There are great things to explore in heaven, even far greater things than what this temporal world can offer. Always keep in mind that agape love of God is the greatest experience ever we can explore now until eternity. Hallelujah!!!

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