1 Corinthians 12: 27 – 13:13 v 11 chap 13 “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.”
Usually, I start the blog with the words from the bible that speak to my message. However this familiar passage of love needs to be read in full so you can find it here :- https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2013&version=NIV
The chosen reading for today starts with the words “all of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. The list of parts then follows- apostles, prophets, teachers, those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who help others, lead, and speak in unknown languages. You should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. Then comes the passage about love and its properties. Included in this passage is the statement;” When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.”
In the course I am studying childhood is defined as the age from 0-12. Even slave children were treated differently to adults so being a child is a significant stage in our lives. Today there is then the stage of teenagers, which is a relatively new concept, the word becoming popular in 1944.Recent brain research has found that teenage brains do not function the same as adults https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/07/feature-neuroscience-teen-brain and this knowledge should help us understand and support teenagers in their growth from ages 13 – 18 and maybe even to 21.
So those of us over 21 need to continue to grow in our knowledge and understanding, exploring our gifts and putting away the childish thoughts of emotional love of those we like and living with the far greater love for everyone. To continue to deepen our faith, living in hope for the future but remembering “that the greatest of these is love.”
Prayer:- Heavenly Father, we thank you for the spiritual gifts that we have and grow as we deepen our faith. For the hope we have in all we do. For the greatest gift of love that you share with us and that we share with others. Amen.
CrossWalk 