1 Corinthians 13 (NASB)
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
The poets, romantics, and song writers have it right. Real love is the greatest high this life offers. We are not speaking of puppy love, or a self-centered feeling which makes you feel good. But a sacrificial, outgoing concern for the welfare and benefit of the other. The love Jesus demonstrated throughout his life.
For example, Lord Jesus washed the feet of his students. A role the lowest of servants of a house usually performed. He forgave his persecutors while dying on the cross. He turned water into wine in respect for his mother and so the bride and groom would not be embarrassed at their wedding festivities.
He spent days and nights sacrificing his privacy teaching his students the ways of God. In fact, his entire mission was to introduce everyone to the God he knew. His fulfillment of all prophecy pertaining to the messiah was so his God would be honored and humanity may likewise have their relationship with their Creator restored.
He loved truth and spoke the truth in love. His ability to reveal His Father’s goodness through words and actions was a story-line without end. The apostle John writes in his gospel that you couldn’t write enough books to outline them all.
He didn’t pursue wealth, marriage, fame, nor power during time on earth. Instead, he was true to himself, his mission, and his God. He knew where he came from, where he was going, and the road of suffering he would have to endure. Yet he didn’t have a daily pity party but trusted in Him who he loved and knew He was loved by Him; him being his Father and our Father, God Almighty.
He didn’t point people to Scripture but pointed Scripture to His Father. In his prayer the evening he was being betrayed, he acknowledges his accomplishment of revealing His God to others so others may also come to know Him. His entire life and mission included making the love of God known.
Do you think maybe there is more to the X-mas story than just a baby being born so he may die for mankind? Is it possible Jesus came to also reveal what a real human fulfilled life looks like?
Could it also be possible, experiencing and knowing real love is the fulfillment of our potential?
Rooting For You in Christ!
Dr. Mike
Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:
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