Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
October 8, 2021
Read 1Corinthians 13:1-11
1 If I speak in tongues of human beings and of angels but I don’t have love, I’m a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and I know all the mysteries and everything else, and if I have such complete faith that I can move mountains but I don’t have love, I’m nothing. 3 If I give away everything that I have and hand over my own body to feel good about what I’ve done but I don’t have love, I receive no benefit whatsoever. 4 Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, 5 it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, 6 it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. 7 Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. As for prophecies, they will be brought to an end. As for tongues, they will stop. As for knowledge, it will be brought to an end. 9 We know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, what is partial will be brought to an end. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, reason like a child, think like a child. But now that I have become a man, I’ve put an end to childish things.
Good Morning! And the greatest of these is love!
7 Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. What the world needs now is love. Not just the love we have come to expect and even accept, but the beautiful love that Paul describes to the people of Corinth. Unconditional Love! The love through which you are willing to lay down your life for others.
Recently, it seems that every conversation that I have with others reaches a discussion as to how “crazy” people have become. As we move through our days, we see the antithesis of love. We see impatience, arrogance, rudeness, and a complete lack of trust. What happened to loving one another? Evil is winning on so many fronts that it seems impossible to overcome such an immense force.
There is only one way to turn the world “upside down” and reestablish love among each other. We must share Jesus with the world. Only Jesus can change “what is” to “what if”. We must move past the self-centered mindset that seems to prevade our world. When we ask “what is” questions, they are rooted in the judgment of others. “What if” questions are rooted in possibilities. What if we look out for our neighbors? What if we give of ourselves freely to those in need? What if I truly love my neighbor as myself? Love, Sweet, Love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of . . .
Loving God, Thank You for loving us. Help us to accept the unconditional love that we have been given through the death and resurrection of your Son. Holy Spirit, work within us so that we may be the change that we wish to see. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God will guide me to where I can be most helpful.
Surrender yourself to God’s love! Pastor Liz
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