a way of life that is best of all
August 1, 2010
Scripture
But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all. If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 1 Corinthians 12:28-13:3 NLT
Observation
Paul just got done telling us about how we weren’t independent of one another, then he mentions Spirit gifts, and how Christians are to function together like a body, and the way of life that is best of all shows how this is possible. The way of life that is best of all is a life that is thoroughly motivated by love.
Gifts don’t matter if we don’t use them in a loving way.
The best organization doesn’t matter without love to smooth over wrongs and faults.
Amazing achievements are tarnished-even negated if they are not done out of love.
Application
Self-reflection: Over the next couple of days I will take a good, hard look at my life and my actions and ask the hard question: were my actions done out of love?
Prayer
You, God, are love personified. Help me to love selflessly as you have loved me. Give me the gift of your Spirit that I might live this way of life that is best of all! Amen.
