100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,400March 2021200:00:03,400 –> 00:00:08,880I’m wholly persuaded that the greatest need of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ today300:00:08,880 –> 00:00:16,620is a fresh outpouring and filling of faith and of hope and of love.400:00:16,620 –> 00:00:21,320When we are filled with faith hope and love, we will shine like lights in this world500:00:21,320 –> 00:00:27,000and people who are in darkness will be drawn to the shining light.600:00:27,160 –> 00:00:30,879Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick700:00:30,879 –> 00:00:34,320Glad you could join us today and Colin, where have you seen this800:00:34,320 –> 00:00:35,880actually play out?900:00:35,880 –> 00:00:42,200Well, all around me in the church that I’m privileged to serve as senior pastor,1000:00:42,200 –> 00:00:49,400the initiatives that Christian believers take that express the love of Christ in people’s1100:00:49,400 –> 00:00:54,880hearts, people who go and serve in prison and seek to help people who are coming out1200:00:55,000 –> 00:01:00,360of prison, people who drop everything and will drive to areas where there has been1300:01:00,360 –> 00:01:05,879a natural disaster and will help with disaster relief, a young1400:01:05,879 –> 00:01:09,839Mother who started a club after school for children that don’t have1500:01:09,839 –> 00:01:13,440a place to go. I mean, it’s just wonderful to see how God’s1600:01:13,440 –> 00:01:18,160people reflect the love of Christ by taking initiatives that1700:01:18,160 –> 00:01:22,059shine like lights in the darkness of the world that is around us.1800:01:22,199 –> 00:01:25,720And of course this is why we’re all wanting to grow in love, so1900:01:25,720 –> 00:01:30,040that a reflection of the love of Christ may actually become visible2000:01:30,040 –> 00:01:32,339to other people who are around us.2100:01:32,339 –> 00:01:34,580So join us today if you can in2200:01:34,580 –> 00:01:39,3601 Corinthians chapter 13 as we begin a message,2300:01:39,360 –> 00:01:42,160Love is Our Greatest Need. Here is Pastor Colin.2400:01:42,160 –> 00:01:46,519Last week we saw that we must grow in love because love is our2500:01:46,660 –> 00:01:48,820distinct calling.2600:01:48,820 –> 00:01:49,760Jesus said2700:01:49,760 –> 00:01:55,199A new commandment I give to you that you must love one another,2800:01:55,199 –> 00:01:57,199just as I have loved you,2900:01:57,199 –> 00:01:58,980you must love one another3000:01:58,980 –> 00:02:04,599by this, Jesus said, by this, by you loving one another,3100:02:04,599 –> 00:02:09,119all people will know that you are my disciples.3200:02:09,119 –> 00:02:11,899So this is the distinctive mark,3300:02:11,899 –> 00:02:17,660the distinctive calling of the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.3400:02:17,660 –> 00:02:22,940And our world, of course, is becoming increasingly angry and divided,3500:02:22,940 –> 00:02:28,380and the natural response to more anger and hostility in the world,3600:02:28,380 –> 00:02:32,960well, it’s going to be more anger and hostility in churches as well.3700:02:32,960 –> 00:02:35,839But Jesus calls us to something different.3800:02:35,839 –> 00:02:38,100Here’s our distinct calling.3900:02:38,399 –> 00:02:43,699By the fact that you love one another, people will know,4000:02:43,699 –> 00:02:48,399Jesus says, that you are my disciples.4100:02:48,399 –> 00:02:53,820And our Lord does not present this as an option.4200:02:53,820 –> 00:02:56,220It’s a commandment.4300:02:56,220 –> 00:03:00,399A new commandment I give to you, Jesus says.4400:03:00,399 –> 00:03:06,639So, love is our distinct calling, and as the world becomes harsher and4500:03:07,539 –> 00:03:12,639harsher, our calling will become all the more distinct.4600:03:12,639 –> 00:03:16,839That’s why I’m wholly persuaded that the greatest need of the4700:03:16,839 –> 00:03:21,080Church of the Lord Jesus Christ today is a fresh outpouring and4800:03:21,080 –> 00:03:26,820filling of faith and of hope and of love.4900:03:26,820 –> 00:03:29,899When we are filled with faith, hope, and love, we will shine5000:03:29,899 –> 00:03:34,139like lights in this world, and people who are in darkness will5100:03:35,000 –> 00:03:38,399be drawn to the shining light.5200:03:38,399 –> 00:03:41,240Now 1 Corinthians in chapter 13 gives us three reasons for5300:03:41,279 –> 00:03:46,399pursuing love.5400:03:46,399 –> 00:03:49,279We looked at the first of these last week.5500:03:49,279 –> 00:03:54,720Love is essential for effective ministry.5600:03:54,720 –> 00:03:57,199In the first three verses of this marvelous chapter, Paul5700:03:57,559 –> 00:04:01,119identifies six gifts that are given to Christian believers.5800:04:04,300 –> 00:04:07,860He speaks to us about eloquent speech, about spiritual5900:04:07,860 –> 00:04:10,339experiences, about brilliant minds, about outstanding6000:04:12,740 –> 00:04:16,019achievements, unusual generosity,6100:04:16,019 –> 00:04:19,119and courageous commitment.6200:04:19,119 –> 00:04:23,920These are all marvelous gifts from the hand of God.6300:04:23,980 –> 00:04:28,700But we saw last time that every gift brings its own6400:04:28,700 –> 00:04:30,579unique temptation.6500:04:30,579 –> 00:04:35,559And Paul warns us that it is possible to engage in ministry6600:04:35,559 –> 00:04:38,559without love.6700:04:38,559 –> 00:04:41,019And that if we exercise our gifts without love,6800:04:41,019 –> 00:04:44,619then we will gain nothing.6900:04:44,619 –> 00:04:49,179And we noticed how remarkable it is that the Paul offers7000:04:49,179 –> 00:04:53,440himself of all people as the example.7100:04:53,579 –> 00:04:56,579He speaks in the first person.7200:04:56,579 –> 00:05:00,739This great Apostle says,7300:05:00,739 –> 00:05:04,220if I do not have love,7400:05:04,220 –> 00:05:08,760then all of my speaking, and all of my spiritual experience is7500:05:08,760 –> 00:05:12,119nothing more than a repulsive noise.7600:05:12,119 –> 00:05:14,380And if I do not have love,7700:05:14,380 –> 00:05:16,700then despite all of my knowledge,7800:05:16,700 –> 00:05:19,239and all of my grasp of theology,7900:05:19,239 –> 00:05:21,880and all of my work of planting churches,8000:05:22,679 –> 00:05:25,279…despite all that, I am nothing,’ he says.8100:05:25,279 –> 00:05:27,959And if I do not have love,8200:05:27,959 –> 00:05:29,859then despite all I have given,8300:05:29,859 –> 00:05:32,619all I have sacrificed, all I have suffered,8400:05:32,619 –> 00:05:35,920I will gain nothing.8500:05:35,920 –> 00:05:39,940And if that was true for the Apostle Paul,8600:05:39,940 –> 00:05:45,519how much more is it true for me and for you?8700:05:45,519 –> 00:05:49,100We all need to grow in love,8800:05:49,179 –> 00:05:55,940because love is essential for effective ministry.8900:05:55,940 –> 00:05:59,980So I’m inviting you to join me in asking God9000:05:59,980 –> 00:06:03,459that we will grow in love this year,9100:06:03,459 –> 00:06:07,720that we will pursue this as a priority together.9200:06:07,720 –> 00:06:11,920If you’re married, ask God that this year9300:06:11,920 –> 00:06:15,140you will grow in love for your spouse,9400:06:15,140 –> 00:06:17,079that your love will be deepened,9500:06:17,079 –> 00:06:18,679that your love will be refreshed,9600:06:18,679 –> 00:06:21,119and that your love will be renewed.9700:06:21,119 –> 00:06:24,920Now, you provide for another person.9800:06:24,920 –> 00:06:26,420You work.9900:06:26,420 –> 00:06:29,399You maintain a home, but always remember,10000:06:29,399 –> 00:06:32,959it’s possible to do these things with very little love.10100:06:34,160 –> 00:06:35,380If you have children,10200:06:36,339 –> 00:06:40,440ask God to renew your love for your children.10300:06:40,440 –> 00:06:43,480I mean, you work tirelessly for them.10400:06:43,480 –> 00:06:45,559You provide for them a home,10500:06:45,559 –> 00:06:47,799the best education you possibly can.10600:06:47,799 –> 00:06:48,640But you know,10700:06:48,640 –> 00:06:50,119it’s possible to do all of these things10800:06:50,119 –> 00:06:52,100with very little love.10900:06:53,320 –> 00:06:54,700If you’re employed,11000:06:55,820 –> 00:07:00,540ask God that you will grow in love for your colleagues.11100:07:00,540 –> 00:07:02,480You know, it’s possible to be very efficient,11200:07:02,480 –> 00:07:03,760very effective at work,11300:07:03,760 –> 00:07:05,980but to remain detached11400:07:06,920 –> 00:07:08,760and actually to show very little love11500:07:08,760 –> 00:07:10,399to the people who are around you.11600:07:11,920 –> 00:07:13,940Think about your neighbors and your friends,11700:07:13,940 –> 00:07:17,019some of whom will not know the Lord Jesus Christ.11800:07:17,799 –> 00:07:21,140Ask God that you will grow in love for them.11900:07:22,019 –> 00:07:24,220You don’t want to be a noisy gong12000:07:24,220 –> 00:07:27,540and a clanging cymbal when you speak to them.12100:07:29,239 –> 00:07:30,559And then think about someone12200:07:30,559 –> 00:07:32,519with whom you deeply disagree.12300:07:32,519 –> 00:07:35,019Think now about someone12400:07:35,019 –> 00:07:39,380with whom you might easily end up in conflict.12500:07:39,380 –> 00:07:42,179Who is it that comes to your mind?12600:07:42,179 –> 00:07:47,179Ask God that you will grow in love for that person.12700:07:47,440 –> 00:07:50,940Ask Him that you will grow in love12800:07:50,940 –> 00:07:53,059for him or for her.12900:07:55,579 –> 00:07:57,059And then ask Christ13000:07:57,059 –> 00:07:59,160that you will grow in love for His Church.13100:08:00,500 –> 00:08:04,279Remember that Christ loves the church.13200:08:05,420 –> 00:08:07,279The church is the bride of Christ13300:08:07,279 –> 00:08:10,459and He loves her with all of her many blemishes13400:08:10,459 –> 00:08:12,220and imperfections.13500:08:12,220 –> 00:08:16,899Ask Him that you may grow in love13600:08:16,940 –> 00:08:18,540for His Church, too.13700:08:20,140 –> 00:08:22,399And then ask Christ that you will grow13800:08:22,399 –> 00:08:24,899in love for a lost world.13900:08:24,899 –> 00:08:28,399God so loved the world.14000:08:29,700 –> 00:08:32,219Ask God to deepen your compassion14100:08:32,219 –> 00:08:35,099for the needs of other people around you14200:08:35,099 –> 00:08:39,580and then to move you to take initiative14300:08:39,580 –> 00:08:42,179and to greater endeavor.14400:08:43,159 –> 00:08:48,159Love is the fountain of all effective ministry14500:08:48,780 –> 00:08:52,500and effective ministry is impossible14600:08:52,500 –> 00:08:57,419without love so grow in love.14700:08:57,419 –> 00:08:59,119You’re listening to Open the Bible14800:08:59,119 –> 00:09:00,340with Pastor Colin Smith14900:09:00,340 –> 00:09:01,619and we have to pause the message15000:09:01,619 –> 00:09:03,580briefly there but we’ll be back very shortly15100:09:03,580 –> 00:09:05,619so please stay with us.15200:09:05,619 –> 00:09:07,859We’ve looked at reasons why we should grow15300:09:07,859 –> 00:09:09,580in love and the first being15400:09:09,659 –> 00:09:12,940why it’s essential for effective ministry15500:09:12,940 –> 00:09:15,780and we’ll look at a couple more when we come back.15600:09:15,780 –> 00:09:18,239If you ever miss one of the messages in the series15700:09:18,239 –> 00:09:20,159which is called Grow in Love,15800:09:20,159 –> 00:09:22,659you can easily catch up or go back and listen again15900:09:22,659 –> 00:09:24,239by coming to our website,16000:09:24,239 –> 00:09:27,700that’s at openthebible.org.uk16100:09:27,700 –> 00:09:30,559or go to wherever you get your podcasts from16200:09:30,559 –> 00:09:33,780and search there for Open the Bible UK.16300:09:33,780 –> 00:09:34,840Back to the message now.16400:09:34,840 –> 00:09:37,159We’re in 1 Corinthians chapter 13.16500:09:37,159 –> 00:09:39,500Here again is Pastor Colin.16600:09:39,500 –> 00:09:42,460Today, we’re coming to the second and the third reason16700:09:42,460 –> 00:09:46,659for pursuing love here in 1 Corinthians and chapter 13.16800:09:46,659 –> 00:09:48,780Why should we grow in love?16900:09:49,780 –> 00:09:52,020Well the Apostle Paul makes very clear here17000:09:52,020 –> 00:09:56,179that love will equip us for life.17100:09:57,419 –> 00:10:02,299Paul identifies six ways in which growing in love17200:10:02,299 –> 00:10:06,659will change you and equip you for life.17300:10:06,659 –> 00:10:08,419Let’s look at these wonderful words17400:10:08,419 –> 00:10:10,460beginning at verse four.17500:10:10,460 –> 00:10:15,140Love is patient and kind.17600:10:16,780 –> 00:10:21,340Now it would be very easy to misread these verses17700:10:21,340 –> 00:10:25,140and to feel completely and utterly overwhelmed17800:10:25,140 –> 00:10:27,380by a sense of your own failure17900:10:27,380 –> 00:10:29,059when you get to the end of them.18000:10:29,859 –> 00:10:34,859And the good news is that if you have felt overwhelmed18100:10:35,659 –> 00:10:40,000by a sense of your own failure in reading these verses,18200:10:40,000 –> 00:10:43,020it is very likely that you have not18300:10:43,020 –> 00:10:45,539understood them correctly.18400:10:46,780 –> 00:10:48,419Let me give you an illustration.18500:10:49,419 –> 00:10:52,760Think with me for a moment about baking a cake.18600:10:53,919 –> 00:10:55,280The first thing that you need to do18700:10:55,280 –> 00:10:57,460is to get the ingredients,18800:10:57,460 –> 00:10:58,900you need the butter and the flour18900:10:58,900 –> 00:11:00,239and the eggs and the sugar.19000:11:00,239 –> 00:11:03,979So you get all your ingredients out on the counter19100:11:04,179 –> 00:11:05,460and you mix them together19200:11:05,460 –> 00:11:08,820and then you put them into the oven.19300:11:08,820 –> 00:11:13,820But without the ingredients, you can’t bake the cake.19400:11:15,080 –> 00:11:17,380Now, when you read these verses,19500:11:17,380 –> 00:11:22,280it may sound like a list of ingredients.19600:11:22,280 –> 00:11:25,619Love is patient, love is kind,19700:11:25,619 –> 00:11:29,539love does not envy, it is not irritable,19800:11:29,539 –> 00:11:32,479it does not insist on its own way.19900:11:32,479 –> 00:11:35,020And so you see someone might read this and say,20000:11:35,020 –> 00:11:37,359well, no, this is very clear.20100:11:37,359 –> 00:11:41,400If I’m to have love, I need to have the ingredients.20200:11:41,400 –> 00:11:44,840I have to be patient, I have to be kind,20300:11:44,840 –> 00:11:46,760I have to get rid of all envy,20400:11:46,760 –> 00:11:49,080I have to stop being irritable,20500:11:49,080 –> 00:11:52,239I have to quit insisting on my own way,20600:11:52,239 –> 00:11:55,299but here’s the problem, I don’t have the ingredients.20700:11:56,960 –> 00:12:00,619I’m not very patient, I’m not very kind,20800:12:01,520 –> 00:12:03,580I struggle with envy,20900:12:04,380 –> 00:12:06,719too often I’m irritable,21000:12:06,719 –> 00:12:10,599and in all honesty, I really like getting my own way,21100:12:11,940 –> 00:12:13,979I don’t have the ingredients.21200:12:15,179 –> 00:12:18,859So then, how can I grow in love?21300:12:20,859 –> 00:12:23,500Well now, thank God,21400:12:23,500 –> 00:12:28,159these verses are not telling us what we need to have21500:12:28,159 –> 00:12:30,080in order to grow in love.21600:12:30,919 –> 00:12:34,000What these verses are telling us21700:12:34,000 –> 00:12:36,700is what love will do for us.21800:12:36,700 –> 00:12:40,080It’s telling us what love will give to us,21900:12:40,080 –> 00:12:45,080it’s telling us what we will receive when we have love.22000:12:45,780 –> 00:12:50,080So, please now forget the picture of baking the cake,22100:12:50,080 –> 00:12:52,919because that’s not the right way to understand these verses.22200:12:52,919 –> 00:12:54,539And think about a different picture,22300:12:54,539 –> 00:12:59,359think about a tree that is bearing beautiful fruit,22400:12:59,359 –> 00:13:01,700and now hear these words again.22500:13:01,700 –> 00:13:05,400Love is patient.22600:13:05,400 –> 00:13:08,200Love is kind.22700:13:09,320 –> 00:13:12,059Love does not envy.22800:13:13,119 –> 00:13:15,700Love is not irritable.22900:13:16,679 –> 00:13:20,659Love does not insist on its own way.23000:13:21,559 –> 00:13:25,479You see, this is telling us that, if you have love,23100:13:25,479 –> 00:13:29,239you will have all of this good fruit growing in your life.23200:13:29,239 –> 00:13:32,359If you have love and you’re growing in love,23300:13:32,359 –> 00:13:34,979you will have patience.23400:13:34,979 –> 00:13:36,960You’ll grow in kindness.23500:13:37,979 –> 00:13:40,299The more you have love, the more you’ll find23600:13:40,299 –> 00:13:45,080that you’re not envying and not irritable23700:13:45,080 –> 00:13:47,760and not insisting on your own way.23800:13:47,760 –> 00:13:52,760The good fruit that love brings will flourish23900:13:53,239 –> 00:13:57,760in your life as you grow in love.24000:13:57,760 –> 00:14:02,320Paul is telling us why it is that love24100:14:02,320 –> 00:14:04,059is the supreme gift.24200:14:04,059 –> 00:14:06,520Why is this the thing we should be going after?24300:14:06,520 –> 00:14:08,080Why is it so valuable?24400:14:08,080 –> 00:14:10,000That’s what the whole chapter’s about.24500:14:10,000 –> 00:14:12,340And in these verses, he’s telling us24600:14:12,340 –> 00:14:14,679that love is of supreme value24700:14:14,679 –> 00:14:16,460because of the marvelous fruit24800:14:16,460 –> 00:14:19,239that it will bear in your life.24900:14:20,299 –> 00:14:23,700So I want you to try and take the hope and encouragement25000:14:23,700 –> 00:14:25,880that is in these wonderful verses25100:14:25,940 –> 00:14:28,359that are before us today.25200:14:28,359 –> 00:14:31,320Some people are going to try your patience.25300:14:31,320 –> 00:14:33,799I mean, this is just a normal part of life.25400:14:33,799 –> 00:14:35,219It happens to all of us,25500:14:35,219 –> 00:14:37,640but when someone tries your patience,25600:14:37,640 –> 00:14:42,119you’re going to be tempted to be harsh in return.25700:14:43,280 –> 00:14:48,280But what this is telling us is that if you have love,25800:14:49,440 –> 00:14:51,020you’re gonna be patient.25900:14:51,739 –> 00:14:56,280And if you have love, you’re going to be kind.26000:14:57,400 –> 00:15:01,200In other words, love will actually restrain26100:15:01,200 –> 00:15:03,440the impulse of your flesh26200:15:03,440 –> 00:15:06,520to respond in anger when someone hurts you.26300:15:07,380 –> 00:15:10,099Love is going to lead you to trust God26400:15:10,099 –> 00:15:12,460for that person’s repentance,26500:15:13,299 –> 00:15:15,099and you’ll wait for it patiently,26600:15:15,099 –> 00:15:18,039even if there isn’t any sign of it on the horizon.26700:15:19,380 –> 00:15:20,619And what are you going to do?26800:15:20,619 –> 00:15:24,260Well, you’re waiting to see that repentance.26900:15:24,260 –> 00:15:25,940Well, you’re going to be kind.27000:15:27,299 –> 00:15:29,320This is how God has loved us.27100:15:30,299 –> 00:15:35,299It is his kindness that leads us to repentance.27200:15:37,659 –> 00:15:42,580Love will produce the good fruit of patience27300:15:42,580 –> 00:15:44,440and of kindness in you.27400:15:44,440 –> 00:15:49,159They are the fruits of growing in love.27500:15:51,099 –> 00:15:53,880And then there’s more because that’s just the beginning.27600:15:53,880 –> 00:15:55,760Look at what he says.27700:15:55,760 –> 00:15:58,299Love does not envy.27800:15:59,140 –> 00:16:01,760Now, again, try and get this settled in your mind.27900:16:01,760 –> 00:16:05,619This is not saying, oh, if you’re going to grow in love,28000:16:05,619 –> 00:16:08,080well you have to get rid of all envy.28100:16:08,080 –> 00:16:09,479No, it’s the other way around.28200:16:09,479 –> 00:16:12,359It’s saying, if you grow in love,28300:16:12,359 –> 00:16:17,200you will be delivered from the destructive power of envy.28400:16:18,119 –> 00:16:19,919And this is really good news.28500:16:21,000 –> 00:16:22,619Because somewhere in your life,28600:16:22,619 –> 00:16:26,340you’re going to experience someone being given something28700:16:26,340 –> 00:16:30,000that you feel should have been given to you.28800:16:30,000 –> 00:16:33,820You’ll feel that someone else was shown favor28900:16:33,820 –> 00:16:36,599that should have been shown to you.29000:16:36,599 –> 00:16:41,140And that they did not deserve what they received.29100:16:41,140 –> 00:16:45,719But what we’re learning here is that when that happens,29200:16:45,719 –> 00:16:49,460it’s love that will deliver you29300:16:49,460 –> 00:16:53,299from the self-destructive power of envy.29400:16:53,299 –> 00:16:56,919And therefore, the more you grow in love,29500:16:56,919 –> 00:17:00,880the more content you’re going to become.29600:17:02,140 –> 00:17:07,140Love in other words is God’s antidote to envy.29700:17:07,839 –> 00:17:10,800Love will release you from the self-destructive power29800:17:10,800 –> 00:17:13,079of bearing a grudge.29900:17:13,079 –> 00:17:15,180It will enable you to rejoice30000:17:15,180 –> 00:17:17,219when God gives to someone else30100:17:17,219 –> 00:17:19,599something that he did not give to you.30200:17:20,619 –> 00:17:25,500The more you love the more content you will be.30300:17:27,099 –> 00:17:28,859And then the apostle goes further.30400:17:28,859 –> 00:17:32,160He says, love does not boast.30500:17:32,160 –> 00:17:36,060It is not arrogant.30600:17:36,060 –> 00:17:37,780And here of course,30700:17:37,780 –> 00:17:41,500love is dealing with the opposite temptation.30800:17:41,500 –> 00:17:46,500Envy focuses on what my neighbor has and I do not.30900:17:46,500 –> 00:17:51,079Pride of course, focuses on what I have or what I’ve done31000:17:51,079 –> 00:17:54,020and my neighbor has not.31100:17:54,020 –> 00:17:56,640Pride wants other people to see who I am31200:17:56,640 –> 00:17:58,439and what I have done.31300:17:58,439 –> 00:18:03,439And love is God’s antidote to pride.31400:18:03,920 –> 00:18:06,300Love does not boast.31500:18:06,300 –> 00:18:08,939It is not arrogant.31600:18:09,800 –> 00:18:14,339Love is going to produce the good fruit of humility31700:18:14,339 –> 00:18:16,400in your life.31800:18:16,400 –> 00:18:21,400The more you love, the more humble you will be.31900:18:23,699 –> 00:18:26,380And then notice what Paul says next.32000:18:26,380 –> 00:18:29,819Love is not rude.32100:18:29,819 –> 00:18:33,540It does not insist on its own way.32200:18:34,500 –> 00:18:37,000Now, it’s interesting looking at different ways32300:18:37,000 –> 00:18:41,180in which this phrase rude is translated32400:18:41,180 –> 00:18:43,979in other versions of the Bible.32500:18:44,000 –> 00:18:46,599The most literal translation is32600:18:46,599 –> 00:18:51,599that love does not act unbecomingly.32700:18:51,640 –> 00:18:55,479The old King James Version of the Bible says,32800:18:55,479 –> 00:19:00,280love does not behave itself unseemly.32900:19:00,280 –> 00:19:02,520Another way that we might say that is33000:19:02,520 –> 00:19:06,160love does not behave inappropriately.33100:19:08,599 –> 00:19:12,280Now, one writer catches the meaning33200:19:12,300 –> 00:19:15,239of this very important phrase well33300:19:15,239 –> 00:19:19,439when he says that love considers the fitness33400:19:19,439 –> 00:19:22,699and the propriety of things.33500:19:22,699 –> 00:19:27,699It is careful of what would touch painful feelings.33600:19:29,239 –> 00:19:34,219It is attentive to the courtesies of life.33700:19:35,739 –> 00:19:38,300Now the point here is that it’s very easy33800:19:38,300 –> 00:19:41,439to get so taken up with yourself33900:19:41,459 –> 00:19:44,000and you’re own world and what you’re trying to get across34000:19:44,000 –> 00:19:45,699in what you’re saying or whatever34100:19:45,699 –> 00:19:49,680that you speak in a way that is insensitive34200:19:49,680 –> 00:19:54,060and that causes hurt or offense to another person.34300:19:54,920 –> 00:19:57,520You didn’t intend to do that.34400:19:57,520 –> 00:20:00,540It’s just that you didn’t think.34500:20:00,540 –> 00:20:02,880You were so taken up with yourself34600:20:02,880 –> 00:20:04,540that you didn’t think34700:20:04,540 –> 00:20:09,000about how your words would actually affect another person,34800:20:09,239 –> 00:20:11,680and how your words would land on them.34900:20:12,959 –> 00:20:15,359Now, this verse is telling us35000:20:15,359 –> 00:20:20,359that love is God’s antidote to putting your foot in it.35100:20:21,500 –> 00:20:23,839You know, we all know the person35200:20:23,839 –> 00:20:26,959who’s like a bull in a china shop,35300:20:26,959 –> 00:20:30,060and no one wants to be like that person,35400:20:31,040 –> 00:20:35,079unaware of him or herself,35500:20:35,079 –> 00:20:40,079unaware of his or her own impact on other people.35600:20:41,520 –> 00:20:42,920And what we’re learning here,35700:20:42,920 –> 00:20:44,079and it’s very important,35800:20:44,079 –> 00:20:46,520is that love will equip you35900:20:48,339 –> 00:20:51,040to be able to discern36000:20:51,040 –> 00:20:52,939how to come across,36100:20:53,800 –> 00:20:55,479what to say,36200:20:55,479 –> 00:20:57,439how to say it,36300:20:57,439 –> 00:20:59,939and when to say it.36400:21:01,000 –> 00:21:04,359Another way that we might say this today is36500:21:04,400 –> 00:21:09,400love will help you to grow in emotional intelligence.36600:21:10,640 –> 00:21:13,359It will equip you36700:21:13,359 –> 00:21:16,560for sustaining healthy relationships.36800:21:16,560 –> 00:21:18,719That’s what’s being meant36900:21:18,719 –> 00:21:20,219by this remarkable phrase37000:21:20,219 –> 00:21:22,359and this statement of the Apostle Paul.37100:21:23,319 –> 00:21:26,459Growing in love will enable you to behave37200:21:26,459 –> 00:21:29,400and to speak appropriately.37300:21:29,400 –> 00:21:31,780You’ll learn tact,37400:21:31,780 –> 00:21:35,339you’ll have greater self-awareness.37500:21:35,339 –> 00:21:37,579And the reason that you’ll grow in these things37600:21:37,579 –> 00:21:42,579is that you are more aware of the needs of others37700:21:42,959 –> 00:21:46,439and you’re less taken up with yourself.37800:21:47,619 –> 00:21:49,020You’ve been listening to Open the Bible37900:21:49,020 –> 00:21:50,579with Pastor Colin Smith38000:21:50,579 –> 00:21:53,920and a message called Love Is Our Greatest Need,38100:21:53,920 –> 00:21:56,060part of our new series, Grow In Love.38200:21:56,060 –> 00:21:58,300And if you missed any of the message today38300:21:58,300 –> 00:22:00,099or the one yesterday,38400:22:00,099 –> 00:22:01,280you can easily catch up38500:22:01,300 –> 00:22:02,479or go back and listen again38600:22:02,479 –> 00:22:04,660by coming online to our website38700:22:04,660 –> 00:22:07,739openthebible.org.uk38800:22:07,739 –> 00:22:10,199Or from wherever you find your podcasts38900:22:10,199 –> 00:22:12,560search for Open the Bible UK39000:22:12,560 –> 00:22:15,619and subscribe to receive regular updates.39100:22:15,619 –> 00:22:18,099In my family we enjoy hiking39200:22:18,099 –> 00:22:20,880and it would be great to go on a hike with you, Colin.39300:22:20,880 –> 00:22:23,199Listeners have an opportunity to do that39400:22:23,199 –> 00:22:25,640with the Hike Through the Bible Podcast.39500:22:25,640 –> 00:22:28,000Yes I am inviting you to join me39600:22:28,000 –> 00:22:29,780on a hike through the Bible39700:22:29,780 –> 00:22:34,319and it is going to be a gentle easy pace of a hike.39800:22:34,319 –> 00:22:37,079Each week, you’ll read a chapter of the Bible39900:22:37,079 –> 00:22:39,979and a chapter of my book, Hike Through the Bible.40000:22:39,979 –> 00:22:41,819And in one year,40100:22:41,819 –> 00:22:44,819you’ll have read 50 chapters of the Bible.40200:22:44,819 –> 00:22:47,579You’ll have grasped the big picture of the Bible story40300:22:47,579 –> 00:22:48,900and most of all,40400:22:48,900 –> 00:22:52,380you’ll have grown in your love for Jesus Christ.40500:22:52,380 –> 00:22:55,219Now, there’s a Hike Through the Bible podcast40600:22:55,219 –> 00:22:57,180to help you on this journey.40700:22:57,239 –> 00:23:00,219In each episode, I read a chapter of the book40800:23:00,219 –> 00:23:02,260and then I discuss it with some friends.40900:23:02,260 –> 00:23:04,219So get started now.41000:23:04,219 –> 00:23:07,300You can subscribe to Hike Through the Bible podcast41100:23:07,300 –> 00:23:09,219wherever you get your podcasts41200:23:09,219 –> 00:23:11,099and you can find out more information41300:23:11,099 –> 00:23:14,819on openthebible.org.uk.41400:23:14,819 –> 00:23:17,260Open the Bible is able to be on this station41500:23:17,260 –> 00:23:20,000as well as our website and the podcasts41600:23:20,000 –> 00:23:22,660because listeners like you give generously41700:23:22,660 –> 00:23:24,219to support our work.41800:23:24,219 –> 00:23:26,900So if you already support Open the Bible in this way,41900:23:26,900 –> 00:23:28,739thank you so much.42000:23:28,739 –> 00:23:30,920If supporting Open the Bible is something42100:23:30,920 –> 00:23:32,900you want to start doing this month,42200:23:32,900 –> 00:23:34,819we’d love to say thank you by sending you42300:23:34,819 –> 00:23:38,359Pastor Colin’s brand new book, Grow in Hope.42400:23:38,359 –> 00:23:40,979It’s a 30-day devotional study,42500:23:40,979 –> 00:23:45,180drawing on scripture and years of pastoral experience.42600:23:45,180 –> 00:23:47,900Colin, what is the one thing you’d like readers42700:23:47,900 –> 00:23:49,560to take away from this book?42800:23:49,560 –> 00:23:50,979Well it would be very practical42900:23:50,979 –> 00:23:53,479because every Christian knows what it is43000:23:53,479 –> 00:23:56,180to go through dark times when we feel discouraged,43100:23:56,180 –> 00:23:58,979we’re down, we don’t know how to move forward,43200:23:58,979 –> 00:24:01,119and when these times come in your life,43300:24:01,119 –> 00:24:04,880you need to know how to handle your own soul,43400:24:04,880 –> 00:24:07,599how to encourage and strengthen yourself.43500:24:07,599 –> 00:24:09,500David of course speaks about this.43600:24:09,500 –> 00:24:11,060He knew what this was like.43700:24:11,060 –> 00:24:14,020In Psalm 42, he speaks to himself.43800:24:14,020 –> 00:24:16,819He says, Why are you cast down, O my soul?43900:24:16,819 –> 00:24:19,219Why are you in turmoil within me?44000:24:19,219 –> 00:24:22,699and then he says, hope in God.44100:24:22,699 –> 00:24:24,599So I hope what people will take away44200:24:24,959 –> 00:24:28,079from this is that there’ll be helped and encouraged44300:24:28,079 –> 00:24:30,780in being able to speak to their own soul44400:24:30,780 –> 00:24:33,359in the way that David did in Psalm 42,44500:24:33,359 –> 00:24:35,920and to find hope in God,44600:24:35,920 –> 00:24:39,839because there is hope in God for every circumstance of life,44700:24:39,839 –> 00:24:42,760and it comes to us in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.44800:24:42,760 –> 00:24:46,319So Pastor Colin’s book, Grow in Hope is our gift to you44900:24:46,319 –> 00:24:48,339when you set up a new direct debit45000:24:48,339 –> 00:24:50,880of five pounds per month or more,45100:24:50,880 –> 00:24:53,640or a one-off gift of 60 pounds or more45200:24:53,680 –> 00:24:56,560to support the work of Open The Bible this month.45300:24:56,560 –> 00:24:58,920Full terms and conditions are on our website45400:24:58,920 –> 00:25:03,560at opennessbible.org.uk, and you can give online.45500:25:03,560 –> 00:25:06,319Don’t forget, though, to leave your full name and address45600:25:06,319 –> 00:25:10,459when you donate so we’ll be able to send you your gift.45700:25:10,459 –> 00:25:13,959For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick.45800:25:13,959 –> 00:25:15,400Thanks for being with us today,45900:25:15,400 –> 00:25:19,280and we look forward to having you join us again next time.46000:25:19,579 –> 00:25:23,180Why is love greater than faith or hope?46100:25:23,180 –> 00:25:25,640Find out next time on Open The Bible.