Written by:Scotty Smith
1 Corinthians 13:1- If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Heavenly Father, as I meditate through this timeless passage, I'm so grateful that, in Christ, there's no condemnation for the ways we love poorly. But, as your beloved child, there sure is a LOT of conviction. By your Spirit, make me much more like Jesus; free me to love like this. Remind me, over and other, that THIS is how you love us in Jesus... all the time.
No matter how many spiritual gifts I might have, or how powerful a faith; even if my giving record was tops in my church, or even if I died the death of a martyr, without doing so from a heart of love, it would be all for naught. I am nothing, and nothing would be gained, without love being my motivation and goal.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Father, by the transforming power of grace, help me to be more patient with difficult people, uncontrollable circumstances, and poorly time disappointments. Supersize my kindness; slay my critical spirit. Grant me contentment that comes from treasuring Jesus above everything else. May I envy less, boast in Jesus more, and become genuinely humble.
5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Grant me joy in exalting others, and joy in taking a low place for myself. Free me from self-interest, self-exaltation, and other forms of self-ism. Help me steward the emotion of anger--lest I think, say, and do things that unnecessarily harm others. Grant me a photographic memory when it comes to the gospel, but memory deficiency when it comes to the failures of others.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Father, may I find no pleasure when the “bad guys” get their due. Revenge belongs to you, not me, and the Day of no more evil is coming. Instead, may I rejoice at every expression of the good, true, and beautiful.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
As the gospel goes deeper and deeper into my heart, may I protect others--emotionally, spiritually, and otherwise. Help me to trust when trusting isn’t easy; hope, based on who you are; and persevere, especially when it'd be easier to give up. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ kind and powerful name.
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