1 Though 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.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Without Love I am …
I don’t think God can be any clearer as to what His priority is. I can have any number of gifts – prophecy, discernment of knowledge and mysteries, and even faith that can move mountains, but without a life lived in love I am … nothing.
God is showing us that everything in the Kingdom of God hangs on and has its foundation in love. And from Day 1 and Day 2 blog posts, we saw that God is love. That is the most important thing to set in our minds. To put it personally: God’s love for me and mine for Him.
It is the huge difference between Christianity and other religions. We aren’t trying to appease a god angry at us because of our failures. No. Our God loves us with an everlasting love, and when we grasp and accept that He loved us so much as to take the penalty of our sins and put it upon His Son, Jesus, we exchange our guilt and sin for the righteousness and love of Christ. Amen!
Now, can you see what a difference it can make when we live out our callings and gifts in and through the love of God?
Salvation + life lived in love = a destiny life that yields a magnificent harvest
With love, we go from a nothing to an everything is possible with God life. Now let’s imagine that destiny life a little further. (See the Journal activities and then Jane’s comment in the comment section below. It is the first one in the strand.)
Be loved, Beloved!
Day 3 Journal Activities
- First of all, living our your life’s calling and destiny in love starts with Jesus. Have you accepted His sacrifice for your sins on the cross? If not, it’s a simple but life-changing prayer: Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I can’t atone for my sins on my own. I accept your sacrifice and accept you as my Savior. Thank you! Amen. It’s that simple. If you just prayed that prayer, please contact us and let us know!
- Have you spent any time processing your calling and destiny with God? Why don’t you take some time today to start or continue that process. Grab your journal and as you pray, record any insights God gives you. This is an important process, and If you need help figuring it out, I recommend the work of Dave Rodriguez. Dave was my pastor of 26 years and recently started Destiny Works and wrote the book, A Why To Live For. I have read the book and worked with Dave to figure out my calling. (Full disclosure: I have shared my Amazon affiliate link to Dave’s book). Take your time with this. It can be a process, but most likely what your are passionate about will be a part of your calling and ultimate destiny.
- Feel free to share any thoughts/insights in the comments. We’d love to hear what’s on your mind.
I wanted to share a bit of information I learned while working with Dave Rodriguez that may help you too:
1. Job/Career — These don’t have to be linked to your calling, but some people are blessed to have a career that lines up with their calling, while others work a job that support themselves and allows them to pursue their calling.
2. Role- Your role in life is a daughter, mother, wife, sister, etc.
3. Calling- A calling is a summons from God given before birth. Dave believes “we have different callings at different points in our lives that change based on the skills, experiences, and gifts we accumulate and cultivate, and they all come together to form your ultimate destiny,” p. 4 A Why To Live For. You discover your calling by “being intentional about looking at what lights your fire, what you care about most, and finding where your skills, abilities, and gifts might meet a need, eradicate a problem, or make something better,” p.4.
4. Destiny- Destiny is hyper-focusing on our calling.
5. Legacy- What you leave behind. What God has done in and through you over the course of your life.
Day 3. This hit me heart deep as I was rereading 1 Cor 13. The greatest gift (love) and the greatest commandment (love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength) completely mesh together. God gifts and empowers us with the love we need to fulfill His Greatest Commandment to love Him with all our heart! God knows exactly what we need and He supplies it according to His great riches! This is your calling, this is your ministry! Love God, and love others. Find a way to love God and others today! Be loved, Beloved!