Listen:
“For we know in part and we prophesy in part” (1 Corinthians 13:9 )
Reflect:
Every Christmas my daughter and I do a 3000-piece puzzle together. She loves to give me a piece and say, “Put it where it belongs.” I can’t possibly see the whole picture from that one piece, but I might correctly guess a blue piece is part of the sky or a lake.
Our knowledge and prophecies are like holding that single puzzle piece. What we know is true, but it’s only a small piece of the infinite reality of God. One day we’ll see God’s big picture but it’s human nature to want it all now, and so this idea of “in part” doesn’t sit well! We need to be aware that any aspects of spiritual knowledge, understanding, and the prophetic that we have are limited – not complete yet.
In the context of this chapter, Paul is telling us to stop bragging about our incomplete, temporary gifts. Instead, pursue love, because love is the only thing you have right now that will outlive this world. Which raises the question, how DO you show 1 Corinthians 13 type of love?
- Be patient: Others are also part of God’s bigger picture – you just don’t see how yet.
- Show kindness: Do good things for others even when you do not feel like it – you, also, are part of God’s bigger picture.
- Be humble: Acknowledge that God’s bigger picture is so much better than your partial one.
This verse about knowing “in part” sets up verse 10, for when “the perfect” arrives. I don’t know about you, but I CAN’T WAIT!
Prayer of Response:
Father, thank you for the light you have already given. Keep us honest about what we do understand and humble about what we have yet to receive, and let love govern the way we hold both.
Questions to Ponder:
What conviction do we defend most fiercely, and how would we speak about it differently if we said aloud that our understanding of it is partial?
Breath Prayers:
Join us in praying breath prayers each day. We invite you to write your own as well.
Inhale(Breathe in): I relinquish my confidence
Exhale (Breathe out): that I understand it all
Inhale (Breathe in): Thank you Lord
Exhale (Breathe out): that love endures over all
(Repeat)
—Submitted by: Audrey Jose
Audrey has been involved with Lifesprings since 2007 and currently leads the Peace Amidst Conflict Training team. She and her husband divide their time between Canada where they are part of a recent church plant in their town, and Albania where they mentor Albanian church planters serving in Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania and Bosnia.