13:8 Love never
fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away;
if there are tongues, they will cease; if there
is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part
and we prophesy in part;10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be
done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think
like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with
childish things.12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but
then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as
I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love,
abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
There is a definite rhythm to Paul's words. It's almost
poetry yet his intent is not to create poetry but rather symmetry by weaving
the gifts from chapter 12 into chapter 13 in contrast to love. The gifts are
patches. They are a substitute to make up for a lack of love and a road back to
it. Let me try and illustrate. My son learned to ride his bike using training
wheels. The wheels were a gift. He did not by them. They enabled him for a time
to do what he could not do without them - ride his bike. He doesn't use them
now. Hasn't for years. He has grown past the need.
What Paul is teaching is that where love is thriving no gifts
are needed. Prophecy illuminates God. It points to Him. It uncovers His plans
and teaches us that He knows the end from the beginning. It builds our trust in
Him. But guess what. When we know His love and love Him in return we don't need
prophecy to convince us of anything. We know. The same is true of knowledge. We
only need it given as a gift if we lack it. Moses lacked it. He knew stories
from his childhood about Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and the God they served.
He had a vague idea of Him. Follow the story of his life though and you
discover he knew very little of the heart of God until after the incident with
the golden calf and the smashed tablets. Moses thought it was all over. He
figured they blew it and God was done with them. The God he thought he knew
would never forgive such flagrant rebellion. That is until God told him
otherwise. The conversation is almost comical in Exodus 33 as Moses begs God to
stay with them and God keeps saying He will but Moses keeps begging anyway. His
false picture of an unforgiving God deafens him to God's voice. He can't
conceive of the possibility God has not given up on them. When he finally heard
what God is saying he blurts out "Show me your glory!" It's Moses way
of saying "Who are you?!!!"
God agrees to give Moses a glimpse of His glory (his
character). It turns out the very first thing God reveals is that He is
merciful and compassionate. Moses never knew... and because he did not know God
gave him a gift of knowledge. In a singular moment he revealed things that up
until then Moses had not known.
What's my point? Had Moses known what love is and that God
loved him and Israel inspite of their track record of falling on their faces he
would not have needed this great Revelation or gift of knowledge. Love makes
all the other gifts redundant. Love includes them all and infinitely more. Love
covers a multitude of sins. Love is stronger than death. Love is like a most
vehement flame and many waters cannot quench it. Hearts joined by true love can
never be separated. With Godly love comes perfect trust, supreme confidence,
unquenchable hope, unshakeable faith and so much more. God is love and love has
already won. Those who know His love know this, no matter what lies are spread,
what tragedies occur, or whatever may come. The war is not ended but the
outcome was determined 2000 years ago when Jesus defined His love with His
life.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son,
that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."
Moses saw some of His glory. Jesus revealed it all.
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