February 10, 2015
Better Get Used To It
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
Love really is the most important thing.
God can use everything we experience to shape our hearts for spending eternity with him. When we are with God forever, faith will no longer be an issue, but our faith will then be complete (see 1 Corinthians 13:12). Prophecy, that is proclaiming everything Jesus said and did, will also be completely fulfilled one day too (see 1 Corinthians 13:8-10). But LOVE... that is something we need now and will still be using for all eternity (see 1 Corinthians 13:13). That’s why it is the most important.
Using the time I have right now to practice loving others is time well spent as it is preparation for something I will be doing for all eternity - loving people exactly like they are.
How do I love people? Especially, how do I love people who are difficult to love?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 gives me lots of options...
1. Love is patient and kind. Smile at people, that is patient and kind.
2. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Be happy for the talent that someone else has. Enjoy it with them instead of comparing myself to them. What someone else has doesn’t make what I have less. What someone else can do doesn’t make what I can do less.
3. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. Let a lot of things go. I can mind my own business and keep my opinions to myself. The person I am loving doesn’t even know I’m doing this, but God does.
4. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Never ever gloat over someone getting a taste of their own medicine. Never wish anyone ill will. That is showing love. It is also invisible as the person I am trying to love doesn’t know I’m doing this, but I am loving them all the same, and God sees that.
5. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. I must keep my heart soft and never have no grace for people with no grace. What if they change? That would be nice!
God is not impressed with any amazing thing I can do, any time or talent that I share, or any financial sacrifices that I make if I don’t love others because EVERYTHING else will pass away according to Matthew 24:35 . But love, God’s kind of love, is going to stick around forever; I’d better get used to doing it!
Dear God,
Thank you so much for your amazing love for me constantly being demonstrated in my life. Help me to share love with others out of my love for you and from my thankful heart. Help me to be kind, let issues go, wish people well, and keep my heart soft all the time. I love being loved this way by you even though I don’t deserve it. Help me not fall into the trap of requiring people do deserve this love from me. And thank you that THIS love is what is going to last and last because it is wonderful and full of relief. I Thank you and praise you; I love you very much, and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
Better Get Used To It
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
Love really is the most important thing.
God can use everything we experience to shape our hearts for spending eternity with him. When we are with God forever, faith will no longer be an issue, but our faith will then be complete (see 1 Corinthians 13:12). Prophecy, that is proclaiming everything Jesus said and did, will also be completely fulfilled one day too (see 1 Corinthians 13:8-10). But LOVE... that is something we need now and will still be using for all eternity (see 1 Corinthians 13:13). That’s why it is the most important.
Using the time I have right now to practice loving others is time well spent as it is preparation for something I will be doing for all eternity - loving people exactly like they are.
How do I love people? Especially, how do I love people who are difficult to love?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 gives me lots of options...
1. Love is patient and kind. Smile at people, that is patient and kind.
2. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Be happy for the talent that someone else has. Enjoy it with them instead of comparing myself to them. What someone else has doesn’t make what I have less. What someone else can do doesn’t make what I can do less.
3. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. Let a lot of things go. I can mind my own business and keep my opinions to myself. The person I am loving doesn’t even know I’m doing this, but God does.
4. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Never ever gloat over someone getting a taste of their own medicine. Never wish anyone ill will. That is showing love. It is also invisible as the person I am trying to love doesn’t know I’m doing this, but I am loving them all the same, and God sees that.
5. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. I must keep my heart soft and never have no grace for people with no grace. What if they change? That would be nice!
God is not impressed with any amazing thing I can do, any time or talent that I share, or any financial sacrifices that I make if I don’t love others because EVERYTHING else will pass away according to Matthew 24:35 . But love, God’s kind of love, is going to stick around forever; I’d better get used to doing it!
Dear God,
Thank you so much for your amazing love for me constantly being demonstrated in my life. Help me to share love with others out of my love for you and from my thankful heart. Help me to be kind, let issues go, wish people well, and keep my heart soft all the time. I love being loved this way by you even though I don’t deserve it. Help me not fall into the trap of requiring people do deserve this love from me. And thank you that THIS love is what is going to last and last because it is wonderful and full of relief. I Thank you and praise you; I love you very much, and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
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