November 6, 2018 – I Corinthians 13:9-11

Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. I Corinthians 13:9-11.

From the moment we notice someone older who seems to have all the answers, we long for maturity.  Those older than we are, seem to have all the answers.  The step from being a child and adulthood is a huge one.  We take the leap from puzzling reflections to knowing with perfection.  It isn’t the number of degrees we possess that helps us ‘grow up.’  It isn’t being the CEO of a large corporation, or the Ruler of a Kingdom.  

It has to do with our Father in Heaven and how we live each day.  Apostle Paul’s final Greeting to the Christians in Corinth are these words:  Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you!  I Corinthians 13:11.

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.  Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.  For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. Ephesians 4:2-4.

Learning to love others, as Jesus loves us, is our way to seeing spiritually with 20/20 clarity in this life.   

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. I Corinthians 13:12.