From the Pastor…
1 Corinthians 13:1–13 (NKJV): The Greatest Gift
13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 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, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
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What else can be said about love?
As we think on the topic of love in February, many folks will give romantic gifts, enjoy fancy dinners, and send flowers to their loved ones. Is that love? These expressions of love are nice, but should we not express healthy love to one another every day and every month of every year? As Christians, love is the order of the day – every day! Love is not a gift, a meal, or a flower!
To shower love on others is a good thing when we find healthy ways (many of them free of charge) to express love to one another every day. We must also remember the words of Christ in John 13:34-35:
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
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If we truly want the world to know Christ, then they must observe our love for one another – all the time. We may disagree at times, but everything we do and say to one another must be done and said within the framework of Christ’s love.
With much love to each and every one of you,
Pastor Billy