Faith Deepened By Love

Daily Scripture Threshing for Today, Sunday, October 12, 2025

Today's Text: 1 Corinthians 13: 1-10

Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:7 (KJV): "[Love] beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

The fight of faith is not fought with anger or bitterness but with faith rooted in love. Paul reminds us that without love, even the greatest acts of sacrifice are worthless (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Love is what directs faith toward God and others. Jesus's model of life, characterized by love, compassion, and selflessness, emphasizes loving one's neighbors and enemies, and praying for those who persecute us. That's why praying for fire and death upon people contradicts Jesus's teachings and example, as seen in His rebuke of the disciples for suggesting calling down fire on a Samaritan village (Luke 9:51-56). New Testament model for Christian fight emphasizes praying for enemies, persecutors, and the salvation of all.

Whether hurt or pained, reflecting God's love and desire for the well-being of people, rather than fostering bitterness and hatred, is God's expectation of us. As we engage spiritual battles daily, what keeps us steady and prevents pride in us is love. Love conquers hostility and opposition. It strengthens our witness and softens hardened hearts. True faith is that winning faith that expresses itself in love—love for God, love for others, and even love for the unlovable: i.e., people who are lost and broken.

"Fighting with faith and love" means overcoming challenges and adversaries not with carnal weapons, but with the power of love, kindness, and endurance consistent with the way of Jesus, who, conquered the world not with swords or violence, but with love, compassion, and sacrifice. As 1 Corinthians 13:7 says, love "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." By following Jesus's example, we can overcome evil with good, and conquer the world with love, patience, and kindness, rather than resorting to hate or violence.

Action Steps: Examine your motives: are they driven by love or pride? Show genuine kindness to someone you find hard to love. Pray for God to increase both faith and love in your walk.

Quote for the Day: "Faith without love nothing but a cold and lifeless religion; but when fueled by love, faith changes the world." (Simon Olatunji #quotablequote)

Let Us Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank for for showing me the greatest example of love. Please increase my faith and root it deeply in Your love. Help me to fight spiritual battles not from the flesh but from the heart of Christ, loving and serving as He did all the days of my life, in Jesus's most glorious name. Amen.

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Thank you for being part of this journey to deeper faith. For additional readings on the themes of faith fueled by love, read: Colossians 3:14, John 13:34-35, 1 John 4:7-12.

With all my love and prayers,

Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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