Love Pt 2
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
Eternity-Inspiration for Friday 10th October 1997
Love Part Three....
(1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NKJV) 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.
Our greatest achievement is love. All other achievements no matter
how worthy or noble are nothing without it. Why is that so? Why
don't we at least get a few merit points for our faith, our miracle
working or our generosity on their own? God is love and love is
fundamental to everything done for Him. "(1 John 4:8 NIV) Whoever
does not love does not know God, because God is love." If we do not
love then it proves that we do not know God. If we do not know God
then everything we have done for him is so much dead religion. It is
a sham. Perhaps this is waht is meant by the following puzzling
verses in Matthew:
(Matthew 7:21-23 NIV) "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,'
will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my
Father who is in heaven. {22} Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord,
Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out
demons and perform many miracles?' {23} Then I will tell them
plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" The most
spectacular good works will be of no use if we are loveless
evildoers. They will not even get into heaven let alone gain a crown
or a reward.
This does not mean that we should abandon any attempt to do good
works as being futile. It is very clear that Christians must live
good useful lives full of good works. However these works must be
righteous and loving. "Cold compassion" is not Christian. The
Christian longs to bless, encourage and help the other person simply
for that other person's sake. The loving Christian does not ask if
they will look good to others or be rewarded. They just do the good
deed because its going to help someone. When Jesus healed people He
did not ask for anything back. He let them go their own way and live
their lives. He healed in order to bless the person without any
thought of control or return.
Since love is so central and is the ground from which all true worthy and
valuable acts spring then we need to ask God to make us full of love.
We need to do that each day, or at least regularly and we need to
check to see that love is flowing in our veins. If it isn't then our
life will be "for nothing". Lets ask God for a loving life now.
Prayer:
Father in heaven, You are love, from you true love flows. Lord may
we become so filled to the brim with Your love that we may
spontaneously love others and bless them and glorify Your name.
Amen.
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John Edmiston ([email protected])
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