Love.
We've all read this passage before. The real question is how often do we follow what is written in this passage? The love that is portrayed here and similarly the love portrayed on the cross is a selfless and sacrificial. Reading this passage, you can see that love is not about the giver of love at all--It's not about how you feel emotionally, or if you are attracted, or if you are in the mood, or if there is the right chemistry. Love is a conscious moment by moment decision. It is sacrificial. All love, to be true and sincere love, will be shown in our actions through the sacrifices we make. If I love a girl, I will go out of my way and sacrifice certain things to show her I love her. Similarly, for God to truly show He loves us, He sacrificed His Son.
Will we live by the words we read today? Being that love is not a feeling, it really isn't easy,..but still, it is love. Will we love God by carrying our cross daily--something that oftentimes means sacrificing some of our pleasures (of course for a greater pleasure! but oh how painful to lay down some of our current pleasures). Will we love our brothers and sisters in Christ by sacrificing our time and skills to help them in times of need? Will we love the people of this world, in a sincere and sacrificial way, to give them a glimpse of God's love?
It's also very interesting that love is slipped in between the chapters about spiritual gifts. In a world that is always about us, we have come to have a fascination with spiritual gifts. Oftentimes, we want spiritual gifts (whether consciously or unconsciously) because we want to be the show or we want attention or we want to simply feel good about ourselves because we are "spiritual". Spiritual gifts are not bad, and are not to be a topic ignored in church. But at the same time, we must always focus on the importance behind why we want spiritual gifts--love. Love for God. Love for people (to come closer to God). Spiritual gifts we should desire, but for the purpose of loving others and leading them to closer communion with God. Spiritual gifts will come naturally (God WILL provide won't He?) If we focus on our main purpose--to love.
Will we live by the words we read today? Being that love is not a feeling, it really isn't easy,..but still, it is love. Will we love God by carrying our cross daily--something that oftentimes means sacrificing some of our pleasures (of course for a greater pleasure! but oh how painful to lay down some of our current pleasures). Will we love our brothers and sisters in Christ by sacrificing our time and skills to help them in times of need? Will we love the people of this world, in a sincere and sacrificial way, to give them a glimpse of God's love?
It's also very interesting that love is slipped in between the chapters about spiritual gifts. In a world that is always about us, we have come to have a fascination with spiritual gifts. Oftentimes, we want spiritual gifts (whether consciously or unconsciously) because we want to be the show or we want attention or we want to simply feel good about ourselves because we are "spiritual". Spiritual gifts are not bad, and are not to be a topic ignored in church. But at the same time, we must always focus on the importance behind why we want spiritual gifts--love. Love for God. Love for people (to come closer to God). Spiritual gifts we should desire, but for the purpose of loving others and leading them to closer communion with God. Spiritual gifts will come naturally (God WILL provide won't He?) If we focus on our main purpose--to love.
