1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Peace to you my brothers and sisters.

Today’s Bible Verse: [1 Corinthians 13:1-8 KJV] Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Charity: ἀγάπη agápē, ag-ah'-pay; from G25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast:—(feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love.

This is love; unconditional love.

We can have the gift of tongues and prophecy but without love they are meaningless. We can have faith but without love it is nothing. We can feed the poor or be martyred but without love it is meaningless.

So, how do we love God? We put everything in His hands and then we let go. He will give us everything that we need. Yes, pray and ask but know that your needs will be provided.

[Daniel 3:14-18 KJV] Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, [Is it] true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; [well]: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who [is] that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

This was the ultimate show of love for God by men. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego put their lives in the hands of God and you know the rest of the story; but, even so, they also knew that it was God’s right to let them go and if that were so they still would not worship the gods of Nebuchadnezzar.

The other love we need to show is the love for our neighbor. So, who is our neighbor?

[Luke 10:25-37 KJV] And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?  He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain [man] went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded [him], and departed, leaving [him] half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked [on him], and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion [on him], And went to [him], and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave [them] to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

If your neighbor is cruel to you, you do not have to return the cruelty. Yes, defend your life if need be but don’t return measure for measure what they do.

Now, we know that there are groups and individuals out there that have no empathy for their fellow man and absolutely do not know or understand love. Some in those groups may still be reached but because of the violent nature of the group mind I do not know how to do that at this time. We all need to pray for them.

The characteristics of love are listed; patience, not snobby of cliquish, not easily provoked, has no evil thoughts, does not rejoice in iniquity, rejoices in truth, enduring, is not prideful, and unfailing. These are the characteristics we must strive for to God and our neighbor.

Go forth and spread this good news.

I hope this has been a blessing to you. May the rest of your day be blessed. Peace.