GodReflection: How About A Better Way?
Saul, raised in the Scripture, within a religion family
, graduate of scholarly professors, is the man we first meet in the early chapters of The Acts of The Apostles. He serves his God with ardent dedication. We find him on the road to Damascus to arrest those who stood in opposition to his beliefs:
Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men, or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (Acts 9:1-2)
Jesus steps in with a bright light and a big question to change the angry preacher’s mission.
Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:3-5)
Many years later we encounter the young Saul now as the wiser enlightened Paul. This time no longer is he set to destroy the way, but rather we find him ready to 
build it up. He writes to a group of new believers, as he challenges them—and us—to follow the Way of love. (1 Corinthians 13)
Before Paul reveals the Way of love, he spends two-thirds of his letter painting the contrast—the way of self.
Remember that Jesus describes the purpose of his arrival as God in human form was 
to establish his kingdom—his rule over all. He demands nothing less than for us to step down from the throne as king of our own lives and allow Father, Son, and Spirit, to reign over our entire walk.
The believers in the newly established Corinthian church—like most of us—were still in need of submission to Jesus’ rule over their lives to become a daily reality. Rather than unity found in Jesus, they had their favored church leaders.
Religious as these people were, they allowed sexual misconduct to exist in the fellowship. The marriage bond between husband and wife was not honored. The way of self was given priority over the way of Jesus.
Because they ruled rather than Jesus, the only way they could envision a solution to discord was to take their differences before courts rule by those who did not believe in God nor the Holy. They failed to let King Jesus rule and decide. The way of self was given priority over the way of Jesus.
Rather than being lights to those in darkness, in-fighting over their perception of “rights and wrongs” fed their lack of tolerance with weaker believers. They created division within. The way of self was given priority over the way of Jesus.
Their daily disharmony undermined congregational peace and flowed into the assembly as they met around the Lord’s table of bread and wine which was to proclaim Jesus’s unity and peace made possible through his broken body and spilt blood. The way of self was given priority over the way of Jesus.
Arguments as to who had the best Spirit-gifts divided the church. Once again, the believers each ruled their own life rather than submit to the rule of King Jesus. The way of self was given priority over the way of Jesus.
After Paul’s twelve chapters rehearsal of the problems caused from the way the new church members rule themselves, he concludes, “But now I want to lay out a far better way for you”. (1 Corinthians 12:31)
He wants each of us to know it is a better Way to live—it is the Jesus’ Way—the Way of love.
Paul’s very next words begin to flow:
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part, but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. . .
For now we see only a reflection, as in a mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:4-10 & 12-13)
I suspect that one of God’s purposes in the years He gives us to walk across earth is to allow us time to learn to let the Spirit teach us the Jesus’s Way of love.
We still fail and revert to the way of Self-Rule. We once again trust—and we see progress. Father, Son, and Spirit are loving, patient, and kind. With faith (trust) and hope restored, we believe again there is a better way.
He wants each of us to know there is a better Way to live—it is the Jesus’ Way—the Way of love.
Stay tuned.
Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection on The Way of Love.
God Reflection 