Passage Read: 1 Corinthians 12-13
Meditation Verses: 13:1-3
Thought
Tongues without love is just noise. I may have vision and wisdom and a powerful faith, but without love, I'm nothing. I may give away all my wealth to the poor and die as a martyr, but if I didn't do it from love, if I don't have true godly love, it's of no benefit to me. But if I have love, that will guide my use of these gifts and make me very careful how I use them, for the good of others and not for drawing attention to myself or puffing up myself. I'll use them to meet real needs in the church and to turn attention to Jesus. Love may even cause me to lay aside these gifts, as wonderful as they may seem. And if I have genuine love for my fellow believers and fellow man, but have none of these gifts, abilities or opportunities, I am helpful, I am something and I gain a benefit.
Application
As much as I might like to manifest a spiritual gift, I don't actual need them. They are not required for life and godliness. Love for God is life and love for others as God directs is godliness. I don't need to perform some mighty spiritual deed. I just need an everyday concern for what God desires, and to act on it. I may never be famous or exalted, but I will be of benefit to those around me, wherever I go out of love for the Lord's glory and sake. I will be somebody to some people. I may not be an apostle to a city or a nation, but I can be an apostle to a handful of people. And I will hear from the Lord, "Well done, good and faithful servant," even if I am the least of all those who served Him in love. The greatness and amazingness of my faith and deeds matters nothing; the breadth and depth of genuine concern for the Lord and those around me, that's all that really matters. True love is laying down my life, my wants, my comforts, my honor, my convenience for the eternal benefit of those around me. Love is the most excellent way. Love for God and my neighbor is the only thing that remains eternally. It was the command from the beginning and it will be the order of the day in God's eternal Kingdom.