1 Corinthians 13:1-3 – “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  ² And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  ³ If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit.”

Today, as I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God, the word love echoed in my spirit.   The Holy Spirit challenged me with thoughts of what love is and is not.  I was challenged to consider the power of love, hate, and even indifference.

Some say I don’t hate but am indifferent and lack compassion.  I remembered the words of Jesus, “He who does not gather with you scatters.  He that is not for you is against you.”   There are only two choices – love and hate.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 lays the foundation for understanding love, its value, and power.  Spiritual gifts, acts of benevolence, religious activities, revelation, prophecy, and the like are meaningless without agape!

Then he tells us what love is and does.  Love seeks to edify.  The word “edify” in Greek means to expand or create a larger capacity.  Love creates a larger capacity in the heart.  Love enlarges.  Love protects.  Love disciplines.  Love sacrifices.  Love loves!

• Love gave us the Cross. 
• Love gives us hope.  
• Love gives meaning to life.

We are to love one another just as Jesus loves us.  That is a thought to think on.  As Jesus loved.  Love is a bottomless pool that never exhausts itself.  I cannot love “just as” until I am filled with HIM!  Only as I surrender all can I receive all and become a conduit!  Therefore, the first objective is to receive Him.

May this day be a day of gathering, not scattering!

Psalm 139:13-16  – “Certainly you made my mind and heart; you wove me together in my mother’s womb.  ¹⁴ I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing.  You knew me thoroughly;  ¹⁵ my bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret and sewed together in the depths of the earth.  ¹⁶ Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb.  All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence.”

What is life without hope?   What value is an unshared vision?  (Not told but embraced by others).  What is life without love?  Love empowers, encourages, and inspires.  I am thankful that I have love (received), enabling me to have love (given).  Lord, help us to be reservoirs of boundless love.

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, the thought of LIFE filled my consciousness.    Psalm 139 is an amazing Psalm.  God knows everything and is everywhere.  In vv.  13-16, we realize that life does not begin at conception or birth but in the heart of God!  Who and what we are is recorded before we were even conceived.  What we are was recorded before we were!

In v. 23, David asked God to search his heart and know his thoughts and motives.  God already knows that, so what was David really asking?  For God to reveal to him the condition of his own heart.

Love and life are inseparable!  If we love God, we love others.  If we love others, we guard against offenses.   We are careful not to wrong another.  1 Corinthians 8:12 reveals that if we sin against another member of the body of Christ, we are sinning against Jesus.

Everything we do should have the purpose of God and the eternal kingdom benefit in mind.  1 Corinthians 6:12 informs us that just because we can do something does not mean we should.  What is the redeeming value of it?

Love (1 Corinthians 8:1-3) makes knowledge beneficial.  Love enables us to rightly discern the Lord’s body.  Love seeks to serve!  If we are to live life to the full and be all God desires, we must become a reservoir and conduit of Love!  1 Corinthians 13 is a powerful reminder!

A germane truth is in 1 Corinthians 8:6.   We exist for the Father.  We exist through Jesus.   Jesus said, “I am come that you might have life and that more abundant…”

Father, I pray for LIFE, not just existence!  Let the LIFE of Christ flow to us and through us, exposing us and the world to the love that transforms!  Help us to LIVE, truly live!  Amen.

Have a fantastic day!

1 Corinthians 4:5  – “Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in darkness and make manifest the motives of hearts.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, a reality troubled me.   Judgmentalism’s ugly head loomed before my eyes.  Its constant companion, self-righteousness, stood by its side, sneering.   It was a deeply troubling visual.

As I pondered what I was seeing and sensing, Psalm 127:1 caught my attention.  “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.  Unless the LORD watches the city.  The watchman keeps awake in vain.”    

Self-appointed guardians of truth often succumb to Judgmentalism and exhibit self-righteousness toward those who are hurt and toward the Body of Christ.  Psalm 133:1 is germane.   Judgmentalism is a sign of spiritual immaturity.  (1 Corinthians 3).

1 Corinthians 4:5 is a succulent warning and guide.  The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart – “Rather than you trying to be the guardian of truth, teach truth.  Rather than trying to expose every error, teach truth.  In love, contrast error to truth without including personalities.  Follow biblical principles in all things and pray for everyone.”

Matthew 18 must be followed.   If I have not gone to the person I am judging as errant, I am in violation of scripture.  I do not know the hearts of others, so I commit them to God, pray for them, and proclaim what I believe to be Truth.  We do not justify sin.  We do not ignore violations of biblical truth.  But, if we become sectarian (1 Corinthians 3), we hinder the witness of Christ and limit the benefit to the Body of Christ.

Here is a thought to consider.  Our objective is oneness with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.  Our purpose is the mission and commission of the gospel.  We are to be the servant or slave of Jesus only.  1 Corinthians 7:23 – “You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.”   If we focus on the errors of others, we become slaves to them.  Our focus on their error hinders our seeing God’s truth in ever-expanding ways.  What we focus on becomes our master.

Let’s focus on Jesus, truth, love, and the kingdom, and leave the judgment to Him.  It is possible we could be wrong in our judgment or only partially right.  We divide the body and hinder the world.  So, let’s give them Jesus!

My cry today is LORD, help me to see my flaws, and in light of Your mercy, be merciful.

May the Peace of God rule your hearts today!

Psalm 103:7 – “He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was drawn to God’s authority and our condition.   Psalm 103:7 Moses was unshakable in his faith and commitment.  The people forgot quickly when need, want, or difficulty arose.

The Psalmist who made that revelatory declaration in verse 7, after the call to continual praise in verses 1-5.  He gave us self-reminders of who God is and all God has done.   What we focus on becomes transformational.

• Bless (praise) His Holy Name.  

This is a reminder not only to praise God but to remember that He is HOLY!    

• Forget none of His benefits.

The list is short but encompassing enough to motivate us to stay true!

1. He pardons ALL our iniquities.
2. Heals ALL our diseases.
3. Redeems (rescues) from the pit (hell and storms of life).
4. He Crowns (a covering and position of authority) us with His covenant mercy.
5. Satisfies (fulfills) our years with good things and renews us so that we are (in spirit if not body) perpetually young and vibrant.

Psalm 106:13 – “They quickly forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel.”   

Acts only satisfy for a short time (even miracles), but Ways (character and intimacy) change us.

Romans 8 reminds us that IN CHRIST, there is no condemnation, even if there is accusation.  Total surrender of the total self results in total transformation.   The Christ Life makes us Christ-like.  God takes every event of life and uses it to bring us to the place He desires us to be.  Transformed by the Spirit, not conformed by the world.

Our condition is directly connected to our recognition of and submission to God’s authority!  If we embrace Him as LORD, He transforms us and positions us to be what He designed us to be.  Then the Christ Life makes us Christ-like, and we positively impact our world for the kingdom.

Lord, introduce us to Your Ways, not just Your Acts!