"By this all men will know that you are
my disciples, if you love one another."
(John 13:35)
Thought:
Let's examine Agape love verse by
verse in 1 Corinthians 13. The chapter
divides easily into three parts: love is
contrasted (vv.1-3); analyzed (vv.4-7);
and defended (vv.8-13).
Paul
begins by contrasting love with the
things that people thought much of in
those days - learning, religion and
power. These three things were
symbolized in the three nations and
people that dominated the world at that
time - the Greeks, the Hebrews and the
Romans.
The Greeks were the
emphasizers of the power of speech and
oratory; the Hebrews were the
emphasizers of prophetic wisdom; the
Romans the emphasizers of conquest and
power.
Paul stepped into the
midst of them and said: "If I can speak
in the tongues of men and even of angels
[the Greeks], but have not love, I am
only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have prophetic powers - that
is, the gift of interpreting the divine
will and purpose [the Hebrews] and if I
have sufficient faith so that I can
remove mountains [the Romans], but have
not love [God's love in me] I am nothing
- a useless nobody." (Amp. Bible, vv.1,
2)
Can you see what he is
saying? He is making the point that
though we can speak with eloquence,
interpret divine mysteries and wield
tremendous power, but have not love,
then we say nothing, know nothing and
accomplish nothing.
In all the
annals of history, has ever a more
devastating judgment fallen upon the
systems of learning, religion and power
than this? But it is - I hasten to add,
a judgment that love is entitled to
make.
Questions to consider:
***Am I showing the love of God in
all the different areas of my life?
***What areas of my life need
improvement & what steps can I begin
taking today?
***Prayer -
Father, make the point even clearer to
me as I go about my life day by day
-unless I love, I say nothing, know
nothing and do nothing. Help me love as
You love, dear Lord, for I do not want
to live in vain. Amen.
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