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
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.
Prophecy, Tongues, and Knowledge Pass Away
In our verse yesterday, we read prophecy, tongues, and knowledge, which we know in part, will pass away ( this is probably referring to the gifts passing away after the second coming of Christ). I pondered this verse for a while, wondering why it is placed in the love chapter. What do these things have to do with Love?
Use Your Gifts
First of all, we can see that in this age of the church, the gifts God has bestowed upon us are still important and are meant to be used in love to edify the body of Christ. This verse says that we have these gifts “in part.” According to Blue Letter Bible that means “to some degree.” We are not perfect in these gifts, because we are still imperfect ourselves. But that does not mean we can’t benefit others by exercising the gifts God has given us. No. He will equip and bless us as we use them.
I think this verse is placed here to spotlight the absolute priority and importance of love. While knowledge, prophecy, tongues, and all the others are incredible gifts, the most important thing we can seek to do in our daily lives is to humbly and boldly love. Love others, love ourselves, and love God. God calls us to love Love.
WIth all of our heart, souls, mind, and strength we are to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. If we can do these three things, then we will have lived out God’s calling upon our lives. And, as we exercise our gifts in love, God will reap a harvest from them “beyond all we can ask or think,” Ephesians 3:20. Be loved, Beloved.
Day 10 Journal Activities
- Have you ever thought about which spiritual gifts God has given you to develop and use? Make a list of them in your journal. Here is a resource that may be helpful to you: Your Spiritual Gifts- How to Identify and Effectively Use Them
- Now pray about about some ways you may be able to use your gifts. Write down any ideas that pop into your head — they’re from the Holy Spirit. Remember, use them in the greatest way possible — in love.
- Feel free to share any thoughts/insights in the comments. We’d love to hear what’s on your mind.
I used to think I needed to strive to seek the more public outward gifts such as an impressive speaking ministry. I also worked very hard to gain more knowledge about the faith and God’s word. Theses things are worthy endeavors, and God uses them for a season, but I see they are not for eternity. They are incomplete, and they will cease. Perhaps there is no greater calling than to love God with all my heart, soul , mind and strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. Help me Father to seek to live for eternity by seeking to love like Jesus. Give me Your heart to love. Amen. Be loved, Beloved.
I found the definition of the gifts in the link to be so helpful. It’s exciting to see certain gifts that really pinged my excitement meter. And it was also freeing to see that I don’t need to feel guilty about some gifts I struggle with. I am just not as gifted in that area as others. God does not send all of us overseas to be full-time missionaries, for example. My gifts are no less valuable in God’s sight.
The important thing is to USE them. Pray and try different ways of serving in your church and in your community with the gifts God has given you. Over the years, I have tried many different ways of serving.The article makes a good point in that God may call out different gifts in different seasons of your life. For example, teaching is one of my gifts. When my children were little, I served for many years as a teacher in our children’s Sunday school program at church. But as they and I grew older, that focus shifted to a gift of exhortation on the prayer team.
It’s always exciting when you get plugged into serving and loving others in a way that uses your gifts, glorifies God, and blesses others!