It's me again God,
Yesterday as I looked to Your Word, I felt You leading me to 'walk in the way of love'.
"Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV
It's easy to say but much harder to do, especially when I'm trying in my own strength to achieve it! I'm so thankful that there is a better way and it's the only way to have the kind of love that is talked about in what has probably become one of the most read passages of the Bible, dealing with the topic of love —that is God's love in us:
"If I were to speak with eloquence in earth's many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn't express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal. And if I were to have the gift of prophecy with a profound understanding of God's hidden secrets, and if I possessed unending supernatural knowledge, and if I had the greatest gift of faith that could move mountains, but have never learned to love, then I am nothing. And if I were to be so generous as to give away everything I owned to feed the poor, and to offer my body to be burned as a martyr, without the pure motive of love, I would gain nothing of value."
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 TPT
I love how the apostle Paul highlights several ways a person could look to be doing well in regards to their spirituality but completely miss the mark because love is so important, no matter which gift I am operating in!
The verses that follow can seem unobtainable but I have learned to replace the word 'love' with 'God's love in me' which makes all the difference! It's His Spirit in me that allows me to be all that is described:
"Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one's achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up."
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 TPT
Lord it's clear what Your love in me is and what it is not! Please fill me with Your Spirit. I want to love like this —more of You and less of me! Thank You that this is possible —it's my choice to put You first and allow You to reign in my life! I want so much for Your love to be pouring out of me —a continuous flow:
"Love never stops loving. It extends beyond the gift of prophecy, which eventually fades away. It is more enduring than tongues, which will one day fall silent. Love remains long after words of knowledge are forgotten. Our present knowledge and our prophecies are but partial, but when love's perfection arrives, the partial will fade away."
1 Corinthians 13:8-10 TPT
Lord I thank You for the many gifts You have for Your people —among them tongues, prophecy and knowledge. It's interesting that You point out that these gifts are not permanent like love but they are appropriate for the present time. They will continue until that which is perfect has come —that is Your return Jesus and I look forward to that day so much!
"When I was a child, I spoke about childish matters, for I saw things like a child and reasoned like a child. But the day came when I matured, and I set aside my childish ways. For now we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries as though reflected in a mirror, but one day we will see face-to-face. My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything, just as everything about me has been fully understood. Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run."
1 Corinthians 13:11-13 TPT
It's clear that when I can see Jesus, either at the time of my death or when He comes again to earth, the need for gifts will vanish! The gifts that I have been operating in will fade —they will be overshadowed by Jesus' presence with me! It's just like I can turn off lights once the sun rises —they are no longer necessary as they are suddenly the lesser lights!
Thank You Lord for Your perfect love! With Your Holy Spirit in me, I will run for the beautiful prize of love, for it surpasses everything else! In heaven, faith and hope will no longer be needed but love will continue for eternity!
Until You come Jesus,
Amen,
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It's Me Again God 2
SpiritualThis is part 2 of my prayer/devotional 'It's Me Again God'.Join me as I spend time in prayer, read the Bible and just listen to what God has to say each day. He loves us to talk to Him and wants us to get to know Him better. "Your word is a lamp for...
