1 Corinthians 13

So I was thinking today, "How many times will I read and try on my own to live out this passage before God gives me the proverbial slap in the face?"

1 Corinthians 13

"If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If 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 have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love 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. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When 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 childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor 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.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

What struck me as I was thinking is the latter part, verse 13. "But the greatest of these is love." As if being truely faithful and hopeful in Christ isn't hard enough on my own, God says, "Love is the most important, make sure you have love." ARRGG. That means I can't do this on my own... Thats a problem for me, I'm independant. I'm starting to get a naggin suspision that God wants to change that. Where to start? I think I'll pray.

And then there's the other stuff that really humbles me. My rough (and ouching) paraphrase of this chapter.

"If I present the best Bible lesson to a group of unsaved kids in the ghetto of Boston, but don't have Christ's love in me, totaly pointless, means zilch. If I get up at 6 am every morning to have a Bible study, a BIBLE STUDY, and learn all the ins and outs of theology and apologetics, hermenutics and homoletics, and know all these big acadamia words, but don't have a desire to really know Christ, I wasted my life, and Gods time. If I tithe every Sunday, and even give more once in a while, but my hearts not in the offering, I would be better off keeping my money.

I never razz my little brother, even when he's a jerk, I'm kind and understanding of him. I don't overly desire things like a car, a girlfriend, a college education, I tell the truth, never making myself look better than what I really am, I don't bragg about stuff. I'm considerate and courteous, I look out for the edification of other belivers, I always keep my kool (with a k), and I don't hold grudges. I love God's Holy Word, because God speaks to me through it, that should give me motivation not to sin. I always stand up for the underdog (unless they happen to be heretical, then I rebuke them in love), I let other people have a share of the work, cuz I can't do it myself, I'm always hopeful, and I always press on.

This Hurts;

I never fail to do any of these things, if I have love. My life will end, and all my head knowlege will prove nothing on jugement day.

Right now, I don't know Christ fully. I tell others about Him, but only in part, because I only know Him in part. When He returns, I will know Him fully. 

When I was a kid, I thought and acted like a kid, but when I was a man, I thought and acted like a man. Grow up.

I see Christ like I'm looking at Christ like I'm looking at a foggy mirror, but will see Him face to face for eternity.

Christ fully knows me already, my failures, my dreams, and my praise for Him.

I can have faith and hope, yet without love, I am not serving Christ.

Think about it.