BACKGROUND:
The gift of prophecy is a gift that enables a person to see events in the future but mainly to bring God’s message to the church under the direction of the Holy Spirit (1Thessalonians 5:19-20). Paul says though that people with such understanding and giftedness coupled with the ability to share these prophetic visions with others, are worth nothing without love.
He expands that thought by talking about faith. Faith here in this chapter does not refer to saving faith, whereby people come to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior; instead, this is an unusual measure of trust in the Holy Spirit’s power to do mighty works, much like Elijah received in 1 Kings 18. If a person has faith that could move mountains but does not have love, the faith is no good to anybody.
True love produces willingness to give sacrificially and to suffer. Acts of charity and self-sacrifice can be done for the sake of an ideal or with pride as a motivation. But they are of no value for the Kingdom, wrote Paul, unless they are done from the foundation of love for others.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
As I think about this passage today, I am moved to practice acting in unselfish, loving ways towards others.
The truth is, love is like a muscle. The more you use it, the more it develops. Practice makes perfect. When you want to become a truly loving person, you have to intentionally do some things that seem awkward at first. They don’t fit. They don’t seem natural. But if you’ll practice, the more you practice, the more it becomes second nature and you become a genuinely loving person.
Think about this: God brought you here to COV. You didn’t have to come here. God could have put you in some other church. But you’re here because He wants you to study Love. This is a high value here at Church of the Valley. That’s why you’re here. And if you don’t get on board with this, you’re going to miss the very reason God brought you to this particular church.
I'd like you to think about some things today - some things that you might consider committing to. We teach and believe here at Church of the Valley that you grow by making commitments.
ONE, will you think about committing to find a LIFE group at COV - to get connected to others so you can practice loving them?. TWO, will consider memorizing the Bible verse we have given you this week - so as to to put God’s word in my heart. (The memory verse for this week is 1 Corinthians 13:13) THREE, will you start praying for people in your life - let' say between 2 and five people - that God would give you opportunities to love them and serve them and share with them what God is doing in your life.
Ephesians 5:2 says, “Keep company with God and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something back but to give everything of Himself to us. Love like that.”
You say, “Impossible. There’s no way that I can love like Jesus Christ.” You’re right. There is no way that you could possibly love like Jesus Christ and love as much as He loves you on your own power. That’s why you need Jesus Christ in your life. That’s why you need Him inside of you and the first step is to say, “Jesus Christ, put Your love in me. Come inside me. I open my heart to You.”
I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course.
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