I am nothing without love

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2

I must have read and heard  this beloved passage a least a thousand times.  Yet, today the words “I am nothing” screamed out to me. On a side note,  I just love it when the Spirit speaks and my soul responds to the clarity of His message because it reminds me that I am His.  So I pause to say thank You to the Spirit of God for being that consistent voice that leads and guides me to all truth.

That truth is that I am nothing if I do not have love.  Love is Christ.  Love is the embodiment of all that Christ is and all that He has done as does for me and mankind.  God tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:4-6, that just like Jesus, that love isn’t boastful or puffed up. Love is humble and kind.  Love doesn’t have an ego.  Love is gentle and kind. Love is patient.  Love isn’t seeking to pay back people for the hurts they may have caused me or others.  Love is seeking to lift others up rather than our own interest.  Love loves the truth.

And again,  the truth is that it does not matter how many titles or positions I may have or how much time I devote to prayer and to the study of God’s Word because without love I am nothing.  Yes, it is great to have faith and to be blessed with gifts by God to be used for His glory.  And yes, it is wonderful to be a worker in the kingdom.  But if I can’t love my neighbor or that person who steps on every nerve and pushes every button then I am nothing.  If I can’t love that child who is the elks against every instruction or that person who hates me because I am of a different age group, gender, or race then I am nothing.  If I can move people with my words, but can’t move my lips to speak to someone then what am I nothing.

I love God.  I know I do.  He knows that I love Him too, but He is calling me and the world to live out the love that He gives us.  He calls me to a higher standard and reminds me of the point of it all...LOVE.  Love Him and love my fellow man.  This is how we achieve unity in the Spirit and be the human race.  Love.  Don’t dismiss the gifts.  Don’t stop having faith and seeking understanding, but always have love for He is love.  His love is what nothing into something.

Father, I have not loved those who are closest to me.  Forgive me. Thank You for allowing me to hear You so clearly.  May I be a hearer and a doer of your Word and love.  I thank You and I praise You all the day long.  In Jesus name. Amen