[1Cor 12:31] And yet I show you a more excellent way.

[Lk 10:27] You shall love The Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.

God’s more excellent way is love. That’s what chapter 13 in Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth is all about – in all we do and say, love is to be our guide. God must receive our greatest love. When He does, that love will then be reflected in how we love our ‘neighbor’ as ourselves.

In Romans, Paul reminds us that we are saved by faith – faith in who Christ is and what He did in order for us to be forgiven. Walking by faith means walking by the standards which God has revealed to us in (and according to) His Word. This kind of faith works hand-in-hand with His Spirit as He empowers us to live this life of love. The result is a hope that causes us to endure even the greatest challenges in life – sorrow, loss, scorn, regret, persecution.

Both faith and hope are two of God’s greatest gifts given to those who daily choose to walk with Him. However, there is no gift, given by God, that is greater than the gift of His love. We know what this more excellent way is only because He first loved us. We “can” forgive because He has first forgiven us (of so much). The “more” excellent way and the most excellent gift which God has given to us is – His love. To be loved and forgiven by God and then to love and to choose to forgive those who have sinned against us…is God’s more excellent way!