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Lectionary
READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 12. 31b – 13.13
How can it
be that love is greater than faith and greater than hope? I
think it is because love is the one that we demonstrate openly
to ourselves and to the world to show that it is true. Love
verifies our faith and our hope. Love is shown by our actions.
We can act on faith and hope as well, but those are actions
that are personal. Love is inter-personal. When we give our
time or money to charity, we are demonstrating the presence of
God's Agapé (love) in our life. When we forgive those who have
hurt us, we are living in God's Agapé.
When the
apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Corinthians, it was to
settle the dispute over which gifts were greater. Like in
Paul’s time, don’t we see the Church divided between people
who have the gift of prophecy, of healing, of speaking in
tongues and interpreting, etc.? Paul's letter is a wake up
call to tell them that all of those things are pointless if
there is no love.
"Behold how He loves us," but as the
Baptist Preacher, Spurgeon asked, has anyone ever said to you,
"Behold how he or she loves Jesus"? Can others see from our
congregations that we are communities of love? "See what
manner of love they have for Jesus and one another"? Has
anyone ever said to you, "Why do you love and serve Jesus so?"
"Behold, what manner of love…" This love produces a community
where there is care for our relationships. “The fellowship of
the Holy Spirit” is a blessing for all believers in Christ (2
Cor. 13:14; Phil. 2:1).
When we are in agreement with
the Holy Spirit the personality of the believer is quickened
and sanctified. However, there are attitudes, reservations,
interests, unbelief, prayerlessness, selfish ambitions,
arrogant pride, anger, bitterness, etc. that grief and quench
the work of the Spirit. Let us not neglect the sweet
fellowship of the Holy Spirit in life and ministry.
Africa
step forth in faith and live in love for one another and build
caring relationships.
Submitted by Rev. Japhet Ndhlovu
PRAYER
Lord, you have taught us that all our
doings without love are worth nothing. Send your Holy Spirit
and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love, the
true bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whoever
lives is counted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of
your only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAY FOR:
Seychelles (National Day – June 29)
Democratic
Republic of Congo (National Day – June 30)
Burundi
(National Day – July 1)
Rwanda (National Day – July 1
Algeria (National Day – July 5)
Cape Verde (National
Day – July 5)
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Matthew 5: 43
– 48; John 13; Mark 12: 28 – 34; 1 John 3: 13 ‐24; Hosea 11: 1
– 9; Deuteronomy 10: 12 – 11: 1
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