This summer, we’ve been looking at the book of Acts – the story of how the early community of
Christ’s followers lived out their faith in Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. We read in
Acts how the Holy Spirit came down upon those gathered at Pentecost in a mighty rush of wind,
flames of fire, and the ability to speak and understand different languages. Though the Spirit’s
presence is seen in signs and wonders in Scripture, the greatest ministry of the Spirit is love.
In his first letter to the Corinthians, The Apostle Paul addressed a conflict at this church over the expression of spiritual
gifts. Some Christians thought certain gifts (like speaking in tongues) were better than others, and other Christians who
didn’t express these gifts were feeling “second class.” To address this controversy, Paul encourages these Christians to
strive for the greater gifts. Paul believes the way to do this is through love. In 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Paul writes:
“If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I
have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove
mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I
may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
Paul describes the love given by the Spirit as patient and kind; not envious, boastful, or arrogant. It seeks others’
wellbeing above its own and rejoices in all that is good and truthful (1 Cor. 13:4-7). Love is the real evidence of the
Spirit’s work. Other spiritual gifts are important, but if love is not present, they mean nothing.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we
discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way.” Let us walk in this way of love
in the Holy Spirit’s power!
Blessings,
Hilary
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