Monday, July 1, 2024

Listen to the Word

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Love may be the thing our world talks about the most and understands the least. We will spend the next two weeks walking through 1 Corinthians 13, seeking to understand God’s perspective on love.

The chapter begins with the claim that love is absolutely indispensable. It gives us what amounts to a mathematical equation: supernatural speaking ability plus profound spiritual insight plus extreme intelligence plus powerful faith plus generous self sacrifice minus love equals zero. It doesn’t matter how talented you are, or how morally upstanding you are, or how committed you are - apart from love, it is all worthless. The absence of love is not a minor problem in life, a little pothole in your spiritual path. Without love, you are nothing.

Live the Word

Tell God that you agree with him that nothing you can do matters without love. Ask him to form his love in you.