You’re singing it now aren’t you? It might be a catchy tune… but I’m convinced that much like the lyrics of this well known song, culture has diminished the true meaning and power contained in this word we call LOVE. Love is so much more than just an emotion. According to scripture…LOVE… should be one of our greatest attributes we exude as a Christian.
I Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV) says…
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but have not 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.
As I read this scripture, that old game show, “ The Gong Show” popped into my mind. I know, I’m showing my age. For all you young people.. just google it!!! If our life was put on display like the contestants on the “Gong Show” would we get that “resounding Gong” or would we hear well done my child. Today, it is estimated that people will spend 20.7 billion dollars on things that are supposed to represent LOVE to those special people in their lives. I thought I had my days all mixed up yesterday when I went to the grocery store… You would have thought it was “Black Friday”. I just wanted some onions and peppers and I walked into a jungle of mylar balloons and every kind of bouquet you could imagine…Candy, Cookies and Flowers… OH MY! Now don’t get me wrong, I have made it a point to teach my 5 boys that it’s important to show their MAMA some love on Valentine’s day, hoping it will continue as they find that special young lady in their life. But more than that…letting them know that when they really LOVE people, Valentine’s day happens everyday. It’s paying for a strangers coffee, calling someone when God prompts you, showing grace when it may not be deserved, sharing the truth of God’s word to one straying from Christ… and the list goes on. I love how 1 Corinthians starts. It doesn’t start by telling us what LOVE is… but how important it is that we HAVE IT!!! If we read these first few verses with conviction, It should change the way we read the rest of 1 Corinthians 13…WE MUST HAVE IT SO…How would it change the way we do life if we examined our lives as we read the characteristics of LOVE?, and check off the areas we feel we emanate and pray that God would help us in the areas we could use some work. Then, purpose in our heart to visit that list daily as we ask God to make us a difference maker in this world.
Think about this acronym for LOVE…
L – Listen Authentically
O – Offer the truth of God’s Word
V – Value others as God Values them
E – Emanate God’s Grace and Power
What’s Love Got To Do With IT??? EVERYTHING…Love sent Jesus to us, Love held him on the cross, Love raised him from the dead and if we believe he LOVES us SO MUCH, we should LOVE others to HIM. Love isn’t easy, Love isn’t butterflies and bubbles, Love is not convenient but it’s Amazing and it’s Necessary.
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