1 Corinthians 13:2
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Today is day #2 of our 13 day LOVE FEAST journey.
I had such a wonderful time experiencing the awesome power of day #1, verse 1, on yesterday it was simply marvelous. Nothing compares to the joys of partaking of concentrated hefty heaping of God’s Word, it fills and satisfies like no other food on earth. It is indeed comfort food for the spirit, soul and body. It leaves no room for artificial fillers.
As we continue on our journey through 1Corinthians 13:1-13, Paul stays focus on his path to chisel away at the corrupt root of self-righteous love in order that he may plant and build a firm foundation on the true love of God. Paul reminds us here that without love we are nothing. It doesn’t matter the impressive show of gifts and talents one may possess and display before others, they are all meaningless without love.
The list of qualities and giftings Paul mentioned in this verse would have one immediately think, “Well how can a person have such powerful giftings but have not charity? I like the way the Amplified Bible Translation of “I am nothing”. It says, “… but have not love (God's love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).”
Love is the greater and without it we are useless to the work of God and His Kingdom. Love brings life and purpose to all these gifts, without love they are meaningless and self motivated not seeking to give God the glory. Love is a fruit of the spirit that is imparted to every born-again believer in Christ, according to Romans 5:5. Love is in us but we must yield to its control, we must let it be an active part of every part of our lives. Love in us is kind of like sugar you add to a package of Kool-Aid. When you added the sugar you stirred it well to mix it thoroughly with the Kool-Aid so that when you drink the Kool-Aid mixture it bringings great delight to your taste buds. However, if you let the Kool-Aid mixture sit in the refrigerator for a couple days without actively stirring it all the sugar will sink to the bottom of the pitcher, separating the two substances leaving you with a bitter tasting solution. The sugar was still in the pitcher but it was not actively mixed with the Kool-Aid therefore it could not effective do its job; the drink was useless or tasteless. Well we have love in our heart but if we just let it sit there and never activate it or only activate it every now and then many things that flow out of our lives are useless or tasteless. The Kool-Aid in and of its self is not a bad thing but it was made to have sugar added. The gifts that Paul mentioned in this verse were created to have love added otherwise they are incomplete or useless. We are born-again believer’s created to have love added otherwise we too are useless nobodies. Love sweetens the life of the believer.
So be sweet to all you meet by stirring up the love in your heart daily.
Amen, add love stir and pour it out until it over flows*
ReplyDelete