February 12, 2025

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (HCSB)
Love: The Superior Way
13 If I speak human or angelic languages but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Tim Kirkup
These verses put a spotlight on the word LOVE. In a nutshell, to others it may look like you have it all, but without the Love of Jesus in your heart for others we gain nothing. Be careful here because this does not open a door to judge anyone but to look within ourselves. How are you spending your time, talents and treasures?  What are your motivations behind your actions, words, and thoughts? How do we look and act more like Jesus and less like us? These verses talk about gifts that are useless without love. First Corinthians 13:2-3 states that “if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love I gain nothing.” This is a very clear teaching that LOVE is the most important thing, and that without love, nothing else matters in this world. Here are some characteristics of love to think about: -Love is a valuable thing -Love is the ingredient that makes everything else more effective. -Love is the foundation. -Love is an action that involves serving others. -Love is a reflection of God. -Love is transformative. -Love is the priority. -Love is self-sacrificing