The Love Chapter
by Chris Shallenberger
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 13.1-3, NLT)
1 Corinthians 13 is commonly known as the "Love Chapter." That designation is significant considering how frequent we find love in the Bible: "God so loved the world!"
These verses are saying that no matter what we can do or what God would allow us to do... if we do it without love in our hearts for the person or people we are serving, then there is nothing good that can fully develop out of our work. Think about it this way - what if Jesus came to earth and chose not to have love for us? Remember he prayed three different times for the cup to be taken from him. He, in his human nature, didn't want to endure the punishment and pain that the cross had in store. However, it is because of the LOVE he has for us that he chose to take the cross upon himself and pay the price for our sin.
We deal with people all the time who treat us badly, or we deal with situations that are hard to get through. But we simply need to remember the words of John 13.35, "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples" (NLT). We need to show the love of Christ to the world. When we love...people will see Jesus!
Lord, thank you for loving us even when we rebelled against you. We pray that you will help us to truly love others with the love of Christ, so that the world will know that we are your disciples. Amen.