Did You Know There's An Even Better Way to Love the People in Your Life? | Brad Holliman
The love of God isn't something we have to manufacture or strive to obtain. When the Holy Spirit came to live within us, He brought His nature with Him.
His love is already present within us. Our opportunity is to allow that love to become visible in the way we treat people every day.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 14:1 to pursue love. That means intentionally looking for opportunities to let the love of God within us shape our words, attitudes, and actions.
A More Excellent Way
Pastor Brad Holliman
God has given His people incredible spiritual gifts. But what matters most is how we use what He has given us to love others.
This Sunday, Pastor Brad Holliman shared a message from 1 Corinthians 12–13 titled A More Excellent Way, reminding us that while we each have different gifts, callings, and functions in the Body of Christ, there is something greater than all of them: the way of love.
Love Is Already Within You
The love of God isn't something we have to manufacture or strive to obtain. When the Holy Spirit came to live within us, He brought His nature with Him.
His love is already present within us. Our opportunity is to allow that love to become visible in the way we treat people every day.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 14:1 to pursue love. That means intentionally looking for opportunities to let the love of God within us shape our words, attitudes, and actions.
Jesus showed us what this love looks like. He loved those who rejected Him, opposed Him, and even betrayed Him. And because His Spirit lives in us, we have the capacity to love beyond what our natural emotions might tell us is possible.
What Does Love Look Like?
In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul gives us a picture of love that goes far beyond feelings. Love is revealed through how we respond to people, especially when it's difficult.
Love gives people room to grow. It doesn't punish others for not changing at our preferred speed.
Love celebrates others. Someone else's increase doesn't diminish what God is doing in our lives.
Love doesn't need recognition. It doesn't depend on attention, applause, or approval to know its value.
Love treats people as valuable. Even when we disagree with someone or recognize their weaknesses, we can still honor their worth.
Love looks for ways to give. Instead of asking, “What can I get from this person?” love asks, “What can I bring?”
Love refuses to be defined by someone else's behavior. We don't have to become unkind because someone else has been unkind to us.
Love keeps no record of wrongs. It doesn't hold on to offenses as a way to punish others.
Love seeks restoration. It covers vulnerability rather than exposing it and looks for ways to bring healing.
Love believes the best. It remains ready to believe in what God's grace can produce in a person.
And ultimately, love never fails.
Choose the More Excellent Way
Spiritual gifts are powerful. Prophecy, healing, generosity, faith, and even extraordinary sacrifice are powerful. But Paul reminds us that living out the love of God is the higher way.
Our gifts matter, but love should guide how we use them. The goal isn't simply to do great things for God; it's to reflect His heart in the way we live and relate to others.
This week, let's intentionally look for opportunities to let the love already within us become visible.
- Who can I give room to grow?
- Who can I celebrate?
- Whose weakness can I cover instead of expose?
- Where can I choose restoration instead of being right?
- Who can I choose to believe the best about?
May our love continue to abound more and more in knowledge and discernment, so that our lives reflect Jesus everywhere we go.
Let's pursue love and choose the more excellent way.
Click below to watch the full message and continue meditating on 1 Corinthians 13 this week.
