Tuesday, February 12, 2019
1 Corinthians 13:1 . . . Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal . . .
JESUS: LOVE DIVINE, ALL LOVES EXCELLING
This is the week of Valentine's Day in American society. "Love" is being hyped everywhere. But the consummate treatment of the subject is in First Corinthians 13, where St. Paul writes of it under the Spirit's guidance.
First off, there is love -- and there is love. Bible readers discover there are three different kinds. "Filial" or "family" love refers to the love of friendship or affection. That kind of love can be found even among the unbelieving. Then there is "erotic" love, the attraction between opposite sexes (so easily perverted by man's sinful nature). All people on Earth can have this kind of love.
Then there is a love which only Christians can and do have. It's what is called "divine" love, so unconditionally on display when God Himself "so loved the world" that He gave His only-begotten Son to redeem it. Yes, God so loved the sin-saturated world--reeking of lust and hate and greed and rebellion and all the rest--and paid the supreme sacrifice, His one and only Son, that sinners might be eternally saved.
That's the love glorified in this chapter of the Bible. It's a love to be reflected in all our relationships and dealings--yes, even if there is nothing lovable about our neighbor, even if his conduct is outrageous and disgusting.
This is not to downplay human love. Try to imagine a world where every trace of affectionate human love suddenly vanished. We would literally have a hell on earth. And yet human love is not the same as divine love.
In another place the same apostle Paul speaks of divine love's dimensions: " . . . that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height -- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge . . ." (Ephesians 3:17ff).
Hymnwriter Charles Wesley knew that divine love's first name is Jesus:
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, Joy of heav'n, to earth come down!
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling, All Thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, Thou art all compassion, Pure, unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation, Enter ev'ry trembling heart.
(Lutheran Service Book, 700:1)
