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There’s something truly special about a horribly colored picture or craft given to you by tiny little hands.
There’s really nothing special about it. Anyone else might just throw it away not seeing the value in it. But to you, it’s priceless.
And you proudly grab the magnets and stick that bad boy up on the refrigerator to remind you every time you see it of what really matters most.
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. 2 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. 3 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.”
What’s the purpose without the heart behind it? If something isn’t done or said with love, it’s not worth much, is it?
That’s what Paul was saying to the believers at Corinth. There was great division among them about many things, one of which was whose spiritual gift was greater. He told them it really didn’t matter what their gift was, it was the heart behind it.
Love is much more than an emotion. It’s a driving force, a compelling desire to fulfill a commitment, a decision to obey with humility, a sacrifice of self.
Love is important to God.
When the disciples asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was, what did He tell them?
Matthew 22:37-40
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
It’s why He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
It’s what allows us to be His children.
1 John 3:1
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
Love.
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Do we show the same love for which we want to be shown?
Could I replace my name everywhere the word love appears in that passage and it still be true? Let this be our goal as we share who Jesus is and offer hope to the world through His love and forgiveness.
I’d love to show you more. God loves you with an everlasting love. Did you know that? Christ desires a relationship with you. Learn what it looks like to follow Him at follow.lifeword.org. Or now in Spanish at follow.lifeword.org/spanish.
Created by Witten Stone Young age 6 at Bailey’s Family Restaurant
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