The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Corinthians 11:1,
"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
This very short and simple verse reveals a tremendous reality about our wonderful Savior. He has provided us an example in Paul of how to live our lives as we wait for his return! As I think of it I can't help but be drawn to the Lord in that he thought enough of me to provide an example of just what that looks like.
Laying out laws, rules and restrictions might have been all we received from him. The legalese, the fine print, a covenant with dos and don'ts could have been all we might know. But not our Lord! Not our Savior! His heart is a heart of love! His is a care for us that brought him here to planet earth to live a life demonstrating what he is like. Paul tells us that those God foreknew he predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, Romans 8:29.
And, because of the work of the Lord, Paul emulates that likeness for us! And the surprise here is that what Paul's example looks like is not what we might expect at times. His example is an example of love! As Paul says in the previous verse, "For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved."
Rather than expressing that more mature believers should demand greater expectations of less mature believers, Paul speaks of the way of love. In chapter eight Paul tells the Corinthians that it is love, not knowledge that should be the way. In chapter thirteen he will tell them that rather than fragmenting over differing gifts, love is to be the way. If we have knowledge, if we are gifted, if we are stronger in the Lord, love is to be the way.
We are to love one another as Paul demonstrated our Lord's own example for us! No man has greater love than this that he lays down his life for his friends.
How can I not love a Lord as this?!
This very short and simple verse reveals a tremendous reality about our wonderful Savior. He has provided us an example in Paul of how to live our lives as we wait for his return! As I think of it I can't help but be drawn to the Lord in that he thought enough of me to provide an example of just what that looks like.
Laying out laws, rules and restrictions might have been all we received from him. The legalese, the fine print, a covenant with dos and don'ts could have been all we might know. But not our Lord! Not our Savior! His heart is a heart of love! His is a care for us that brought him here to planet earth to live a life demonstrating what he is like. Paul tells us that those God foreknew he predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, Romans 8:29.
And, because of the work of the Lord, Paul emulates that likeness for us! And the surprise here is that what Paul's example looks like is not what we might expect at times. His example is an example of love! As Paul says in the previous verse, "For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved."
Rather than expressing that more mature believers should demand greater expectations of less mature believers, Paul speaks of the way of love. In chapter eight Paul tells the Corinthians that it is love, not knowledge that should be the way. In chapter thirteen he will tell them that rather than fragmenting over differing gifts, love is to be the way. If we have knowledge, if we are gifted, if we are stronger in the Lord, love is to be the way.
We are to love one another as Paul demonstrated our Lord's own example for us! No man has greater love than this that he lays down his life for his friends.
How can I not love a Lord as this?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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