“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ESV
The reading this morning from First 15 was really good for me. The difficulty still lies in the question of why bad things happen, why our prayers appear to go unanswered, and what is the point of it all? My walk is moment by moment. I tend to forget this. I lean towards the inclination of comfort over diligently seeking a spiritual relationship with God. I think that if I’m feeling ok and things are “fine”, that’s good enough. The truth is that I don’t have to do anything. I can stay here on this couch all day and I will still be loved. I will still be forgiven of the screw ups I have. My inclinations don’t define my relationship with God. His love defines me. His love seeks my love. And that is where I was drawn in this morning. I am defined by the love of my Creator even as I have doubts about His very existence because things go wrong or become difficult in my life. His desire is my love for Him. I was given a choice to believe or not, to love Him first or love myself, money, things, fame, or anything else first. And yet, even in the face of not believing, of not listening to what is intended for my good, of acting out in ways that harm myself and others, even in the face of that, He sacrifices and extends His hand, he chases after me, seeking my love, seeking relationship with me. With ME!!! My mind can think up lots of things. My mind conceives many real and wonderful loves. This is one that blows my mind every time I realize it’s truth and reality. The truth is that love is what our Father offers and it’s what He seeks from us. To love Him first and to accept everything in our lives thru the filter of His love. Then, we are to go out and love on everyone else. John Lennon wrote, “imagine all the people living life in peace.” Well, imagine them all living life in love. Wouldn’t that be the most beautiful thing. Where does peace come from, but a greater love?
Father, I pray for my family and their well being. I pray that they would know You more closely today. I pray that they would trust You today and that they would know that You love them. I give myself to You and ask that You guide my heart into action for Your great love. Show me what You have in store for this day and let my heart rejoice in knowing You first. I am Yours.
Amen