“Love Is Stronger: Recovering God’s Motive of Revival and Revitalization”
As we engage that idea of Global revival at Lee University, Asbury, and many other phenomenal institutions of the church, I focus my considerations toward the Love of God. The one result that i would love to see as a result of the meeting is a phenomenal drawing, winning, and healing of souls due to the manifold love of God filling His people. 1 Corinthians 13:8 is a powerful reminder of the enduring nature of love. The verse states, "Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away." This passage is often used in the context of weddings and romantic relationships, but it holds much deeper significance for the life of the church and the Christian faith as a whole.
In this exegesis, we will explore how this passage points to the transformative power of love and how recovering God's motive of revival and revitalization can lead to a renewed passion for ministry and a revival of the church.
The first point to consider is that love is stronger than any spiritual gift. Paul makes this point in 1 Corinthians 12-14, where he discusses the importance of spiritual gifts in the life of the church. He acknowledges that the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge are important, but he also emphasizes that love is the most important gift of all.
The reason for this is that love never fails. Spiritual gifts may come and go, but love endures. Love is not dependent on our circumstances, our abilities, or our feelings. Love is a choice, a commitment to put the needs of others before our own. When we choose to love, we tap into a power that is greater than ourselves.
The second point to consider is that God's motive for revival and revitalization is rooted in love. Throughout the Bible, we see God's deep love for his people and his desire to see them restored and renewed. In the Old Testament, we see God's people repeatedly turning away from him, but we also see God's faithfulness in bringing them back to himself. In the New Testament, we see God's ultimate expression of love in sending his Son to die for our sins.
God's motive for revival and revitalization is not about gaining more members or increasing our influence. It is about restoring a broken and hurting world to wholeness through the power of Christ's love. When we embrace this motive, we are no longer motivated by self-interest or ambition, but by a desire to see God's kingdom flowing in our lives by the Holy Spirit.
Finally, we must understand that love is not just a feeling or an emotion. It is a way of life. When we choose to love, we are choosing to live a life of sacrifice, humility, and service. We are choosing to put the needs of others before our own, to be patient and kind, to forgive and reconcile. This kind of love is not easy, but it is essential if we want to see true revival and revitalization in our churches and in our world.
In conclusion, 1 Corinthians 13:8 is a powerful reminder of the enduring nature of love and its transformative power in our lives. When we recover God's motive of revival and revitalization, we tap into a power that is greater than ourselves. We are no longer motivated by self-interest or ambition, but by a desire to see God's kingdom way of living. May we choose to love in all that we do, and may we see the revival and revitalization of the church and our world that God desires.