SHOWING LOVE OPENS DOORS
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
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. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
1 Corinthians 13:1-7 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
If you have hung around church for any length of time you are probably familiar with our text. It is Paul’s love chapter where he tells of the importance of love in our lives.
Jesus told us beginning in Matthew 22:36 that the greatest command was to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. Now Paul is defining for us what that love should look like.
When we think about sharing Christ with others, we often think about memorizing certain scriptures that we repeat to those not yet following Jesus. I do believe we need to have knowledge of scripture in reading this passage today. I was stuck with the thought of what an impact we could have on our world if we really practiced what Paul talked about.
Instead of focusing on religious activities and such what if we focused on being patient and kind? What if we were known as not being jealous or boastful or proud or rude? What if we really demonstrated the kind of love Paul is talking about?
I know this is not in our human flesh to always act this way. That is why we must depend on the Holy Spirit to help us. That is also why other people will notice that something is different about us.
I know we won’t be perfect in loving others. But if we begin to try to grow in our love each day, I believe others will notice.
I have been praying this year for a weekly God-moment. Each day I am asking God to show me how to have a God-moment with someone outside of a church building. To do that I have realized I have to be more aware of people around me.
One day I stopped in Cava to grab a quick lunch. There was a couple in front of me that were there for their first time. They didn’t know how it worked and were confused. My first thought was, “I’m in a hurry and they are slow.” Then I thought about showing love.
I took a deep breath and offered to help them. I tried to explain the process and gave some suggestions of what I like to order. This began a conversation. It was a few simple moments. We wound up sitting next to each other and sharing a little about our lives.
Showing love opens a lot of doors. For me, that means I must slow down and see people as opportunities not roadblocks.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit help me to see people the way You see them. Help me to demonstrate love in everything I do.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”
Lord, help me to see the opportunity to share your love.