Without love it means nothing.

Are you patient?

When someone cuts you off in traffic - what is your first reaction? When someone hurts you or lets you down - how do you react? Do you think before you speak or act?

In 1 Corinthians chapter 13 the term for patient in the Greek is macros, which means long (in terms of time), and thymos which is the soul - the seat of feelings and passions. So this literally means being long on feeling or to delay one's anger.

Do you delay your anger, meaning - are you patient with people? It doesn't say put up with people's crap and be a floor mat - but do you allow for God to move in a situation?

Being around and in pentacostal churches since I was saved I have seen that they focus a lot on the giftings of the Spirit; things like tongues, laying on of hands, prophecy and healings; all of which are good, useful and needed. But I always thought to myself, what about love?

God has reminded me again that this is the most important thing of all to live and do - love others.We can get excited, dance, see miracles, scream or shout but if we don't have love it is all pointless.

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or clanging cymbal."...just adding to the noise.

What about you? Insert your name into these blanks, If (______) had the gift of prophecy, and if (_____) understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if (_____) had such faith that (_____) could move mountains, but didn't love others, (_____) would be nothing.

Did you read that? Who cares if you can do all these amazing miracles, if you do not love it is considered nothing to God!

If (_____) gave EVERYTHING (_____) had to the poor and even sacrificed (_____'s) body, but did not love others, (_____) would have gained nothing.

You might have books written about you and a lot of followers on twitter, but Jesus would say, "I never knew you."We can accomplish a lot and God can and will use us, but if we lose our love for God and others it is pointless - Jesus will not even know who you are. That puts things into perspective.

'Love' is defined here as - agape - it encompasses the mind, emotions, and will of the individual because it comes from God. It is only by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God that we can internalize and realize the love that God has for us. This type of godly love compels us to look for unmet needs among our fellow human beings. It is godly compulsion which brings us to a point where the world no longer sees us, but rather Christ in us. Further examination reveals an inseparable relationship between faith, hope and love, yet the apostle affirms the supremacy of love.

Ephesians 5:2 "Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ."

Read again that familiar passage in 1 Corinthians 13 and examine your motives. Why do you live the way you do? Do you show love to others?

Can they see that you have a relationship with Jesus by the way you treat them?

Are you adding to the noise?

Does Jesus know your name?

Without love it means nothing.

Be blessed,
Steve