Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

2 September 2025

Reading From I Corinthians 13

“If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give away all my possessions to charity, and if I surrender my body so that I may glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.”

—I Corinthians 13:1-3, NASB

     We are instructed by the Lord to eagerly desire to have the spiritual gifts, especially prophecy, operating through our lives by the power of the Spirit.  At the end of chapter 12, Paul encourages us, “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.  And yet I will show you the most excellent way.”  That more excellent way is the way of love from which all the other fruits of the Spirit are produced.  It is vital to our spiritual health, the effectiveness of God’s ministry through us, and the well-being of those we minister to that the gifts of the Spirit are manifested with the fruit in tandem.  Functioning in the gifts without the fruit is actually harmful to ourselves and others. 

     Galatians 5:22-26 provides us with excellent knowledge and wisdom concerning not only the fruit but the gifts.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” 

     As the Lord empowers us by His Spirit to function in the gifts, we should do so in love.  Not only that, but the caution to avoid conceit, provocation and envy are especially helpful as God blesses us with spiritual gifts.  In the enflamed political climate we are embroiled in, we must be careful to say things to our brothers and sisters that provoke them to think more about our Lord Christ and His Word, not to intentionally provoke them to wrath just to illicit a negative reaction from them.  Spiritual gifts and fruit are to be manifested in our lives for the glory of God and the building up of His Kingdom, not for our own worldly benefit or to build our own little kingdoms.  Let us minister in power and love.

“Lord Jesus, I pray that Your people would minister to one another and to those who do not know You as Savior and Lord in ways that are thoughtful and loving.  As Your power flows through us, let us not become puffed up with pride, but rather remind us to minister with humility and grace.  May Your love and power operate through us imperfect vessels in equal measure.  In the Name of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords I pray these things.  Amen.”

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

—Philippians 4:5

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

–Ephesians 4:29