DAY THIRTY SIX - LOVE
In the book our small group is reading - Crazy Love by Francis Chan - he explains that God isnt' interested in our lukewarm attempts at following Him. He's not interested in our pitiful sacrifices. Francis states, "He measures our lives by how we love."
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is a good yardstick to measure yourself by:
"4 I am patient and kind; I do not envy or boast; (I am) not arrogant 5 or rude. I do not insist on my own way; I am not irritable or resentful; 6 I do not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoice with the truth. 7 I bears all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things."
All of a sudden this verse has a whole new flavour to it. It becomes very convicting. Am I really patient and kind, not insisting on my way? Do I really rejoice in the truth?
Earlier in the chapter of 1 Corinthians it says, "1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 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. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
It is possible to have amazing gifts, and abilities - strong faith, and great ministries - but WITHOUT LOVE, it means nothing! After the whole life I was given, will I be able to stand before the King of Kings and say, "I did the best I could at loving with my whole heart"? I hope so. I'm not writing this to cast judgement but to inspire and motivate us! Love is a daily, moment by moment choice. It is the first 2 greatest commandments - Love God, Love People. So I can only hope and pray that God will continue to guide me in my quest!
This reminds of a song I knew growing up by Ginny Owens called I Am Nothing - that says I could basically do all the proper "Christian-ese" things but without love - all of it is meaningless!
I AM NOTHING
I could travel over oceans, cross the deserts, climb the mountains
Just to share Your story, bring You glory, and win souls for You.
AND I could sing like an angel, songs so humble and so thankful
Full of drama and emotion, so the world would know Your truth.
I could give away my money and my clothes and my food
To restore those people who are poor, AND lost, and down-and-out.
Oh, I could succeed at all these things,
Find favor with peasants and kings,
But if I do not love, I am nothing.
I could live a flawless life,
Never cheat or steal or lie,
And always speak so kindly, smile SO warmly, and go about doing good.
I could dedicate myself to do what everyone else wants me to-
Listen to them, compliment them, say the things I should.
I could show up every Sunday, lead the Choir and Bible Study
And they all might come to know me as a leader and a friend.
Oh, I could achieve success on Earth, but success cannot define my worth
And all these actions, all these words, THEY will not matter in the end-
CAUSE Songs will fade to silence,
Stories, they will cease.
The dust will settle, covering all my selfless deeds.
So as I strive to serve You,
Won't You make it clear to me,
THAT If I do not love, I am nothing.
AND If I cannot live my life loving my brother,
Then how can I love the One who lived His life for me?
OH, Sent to Earth from Heaven,
Humble Servant, Holy King,
Come to share a story, get no glory, and save my searching soul,
You knew that I'd deny You, crucify You, but nothing could stop You from
living for me, dying for me, so that I would know-
THAT Songs will fade to silence,
Stories they will cease,
The dust will settle covering ALL MY selfless deeds.
But Your life here has made it clear enough for me to see
That if I do not love, I am nothing
Well said.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is a good yardstick to measure yourself by:
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
"4 I am patient and kind; I do not envy or boast; (I am) not arrogant 5 or rude. I do not insist on my own way; I am not irritable or resentful; 6 I do not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoice with the truth. 7 I bears all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things."
All of a sudden this verse has a whole new flavour to it. It becomes very convicting. Am I really patient and kind, not insisting on my way? Do I really rejoice in the truth?
Earlier in the chapter of 1 Corinthians it says, "1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 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. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
It is possible to have amazing gifts, and abilities - strong faith, and great ministries - but WITHOUT LOVE, it means nothing! After the whole life I was given, will I be able to stand before the King of Kings and say, "I did the best I could at loving with my whole heart"? I hope so. I'm not writing this to cast judgement but to inspire and motivate us! Love is a daily, moment by moment choice. It is the first 2 greatest commandments - Love God, Love People. So I can only hope and pray that God will continue to guide me in my quest!
This reminds of a song I knew growing up by Ginny Owens called I Am Nothing - that says I could basically do all the proper "Christian-ese" things but without love - all of it is meaningless!
I AM NOTHING
I could travel over oceans, cross the deserts, climb the mountains
Just to share Your story, bring You glory, and win souls for You.
AND I could sing like an angel, songs so humble and so thankful
Full of drama and emotion, so the world would know Your truth.
I could give away my money and my clothes and my food
To restore those people who are poor, AND lost, and down-and-out.
Oh, I could succeed at all these things,
Find favor with peasants and kings,
But if I do not love, I am nothing.
I could live a flawless life,
Never cheat or steal or lie,
And always speak so kindly, smile SO warmly, and go about doing good.
I could dedicate myself to do what everyone else wants me to-
Listen to them, compliment them, say the things I should.
I could show up every Sunday, lead the Choir and Bible Study
And they all might come to know me as a leader and a friend.
Oh, I could achieve success on Earth, but success cannot define my worth
And all these actions, all these words, THEY will not matter in the end-
CAUSE Songs will fade to silence,
Stories, they will cease.
The dust will settle, covering all my selfless deeds.
So as I strive to serve You,
Won't You make it clear to me,
THAT If I do not love, I am nothing.
AND If I cannot live my life loving my brother,
Then how can I love the One who lived His life for me?
OH, Sent to Earth from Heaven,
Humble Servant, Holy King,
Come to share a story, get no glory, and save my searching soul,
You knew that I'd deny You, crucify You, but nothing could stop You from
living for me, dying for me, so that I would know-
THAT Songs will fade to silence,
Stories they will cease,
The dust will settle covering ALL MY selfless deeds.
But Your life here has made it clear enough for me to see
That if I do not love, I am nothing
Well said.
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