Ever have those feelings that you are just not doing enough? Do you find yourself sinking under the weight of “I’m just not quite as good as so and so”. Can I encourage you to take a pause from the incessant doing and lean in to the voice of this passage of scripture.
What if I speak in the most elegant languages of people or in the exotic languages of the heavenly messengers, but I live without love? Well then, anything I say is like the clanging of brass or a crashing cymbal. 2 What if I have the gift of prophecy, am blessed with knowledge and insight to all the mysteries, or what if my faith is strong enough to scoop a mountain from its bedrock, yet I live without love? If so, I am nothing. 3 I could give all that I have to feed the poor, I could surrender my body to be burned as a martyr, but if I do not live in love, I gain nothing by my selfless acts. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (The Voice)
What if you wrote beautifully and flocks of people came to your blog, what if you had all kind of knowledge, and faith that was able to move mountains
What if you were able to travel the world doing missions
What if you continue to say yes instead of heeding the inner voice that says not yet
What if you continue to run yourself ragged trying to check off every thing off your virtual to do list
But you lived without love?
Then we have gained NOTHING.
The world grades on a vastly different scale than God. All of those things look like a lot and they have a way of stroking our egos and giving us sense of belonging and fulfillment. Yet God wants us to focus on eternal things.
Wow! Wow! Wow! A very timely word. I am reminded that most of the “religious” missed the mark with Jesus when He walked the earth because they simply did not operate in or recognize love.
Jesus turned the religious system upside down for sure. And he’s way is still counter-culture.
Wanda,
I just tweeted something similar: “The more time I spend with Jesus, the more love I have for others–even if they believe differently than me. I may not agree, but I LOVE!”
So many folks are critical of others. I may not agree with another or how they are living, but I am NOT the judge and jury. I will show love to them. I may not accept their living practices, but I will still love them. Jesus reached for those who we would have scoffed at. It just may be that no one has ever cared or loved them. Let’s stick with love—more love, more love. Without love, we have nothing. All of our doing is nothing. We must love, even when it is difficult. We don’t have to around those that hurt us, but we must pray for them and forgive them. That’s one way of showing love. Love overcomes all. Blessings!
Cynthia, I love those words. Jesus had unique way of building bridges across lines that many religious folks wouldn’t dare cross. Yet His love compelled him to go there. The more we illustrate that love to others, the more they will be drawn to Christ.
Yes my friend! God looks at the “heart” of man! As Paul stated…’he counted EVERYTHING in this world as dung, in comparison to knowing the excellency of Christ! Thanks for sharing Wanda! Have a wonderfully blessed week my friend! 🙂
Same to you Michell!
Do you see me standing up and cheering? This was an excellent post, with a great message. It really speaks to my heart – I all too often get caught up in that *comparison/not enough* trap. Listening, all too often, to the lies of the enemy. He is all about recognition – Jesus is all about love.
I’m choosing love.
GOD BLESS!
Ahh Sharon thank’s dear. Love always is the best choice!
At times I have been very guilty of doing, doing, doing–without a shred of love–just because I wanted to please people. Love the translation you chose for this, Wanda. It makes the meaning crystal clear.
I think we all have been there Pam. The Voice translation just really had a way of shouting out this scripture to me so that I just couldn’t pass it up.
“But you lived without love? Then we have gained NOTHING.”
Amen!
And while I believe this with all my heart I know I’m still guilty of trying to be more and do more and in the midst of it all I can miss out on extending love to those around me. I’m so busy doing I miss seeing them. And know that hurts. I think I needed this today.
Thank you, Wanda.
Oh I understand Beth. I have heard it and I too believe it but yet I find myself on tugged between urge to do with the need to just be.
Hi Wanda! I really connected with the thought that all the success and busyness looks like good stuff…but if it’s not God’s ‘yes’, then it’s really not good at all. Pretty soon, it’s all going to crash. Or someone will be hurt.
Waiting on the Lord, who is Love, is the only way. I really must listen to that inner voice. That voice is ‘living and effective.’ Not my own will.
Good words for me today my friend,
Ceil
Ceil, there are a lot of good things for us to get involved in and I am having to learn not to just take on every good thing.
Yes, yes, yes. Speak on sis.
Hi Denise. So good to see you. How have you been?
Excellent reminder. We so easily forget our mission; to love as our Savior did. Thanks, Wanda.
Lots of things can crowd in on the essentials. We just have to be mindful of keeping focus on the main thing.
Beautiful Wanda! Much food for thought.
Thanks Bernadine.
Amen Wanda! 1 Corinthians 13 makes it very clear that LOVE is the only motivation for true Christian ministry. It is not about how much training we may or may not have done, how many credentials we have, how gifted we are, how greatly we flow in spiritual gifts, how much faith we have, how many miracles we can do; etc….It is all to no avail if we do not have LOVE! 🙂
Blessings!
Denise
So true Denise. While the credentials may impress others it holds little weight in God’s eyes.
We are blessed to live by God’s standards, not our own! 🙂
Indeed Susannah.
Such a good word. It really is all about love. I can write, paint, encourage others. But if I don’t have love, it’s all for nothing.
Reading that scripture just encouraged be that it’s okay if all I hope to do does not actually get done because it is not what really matters anyway.