Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [c]thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is [d]perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now, we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13 NKJV This is the scripture known as the chapter of love. Is it the greatest chapter in the bible? I cannot answer that question. Only God knows. I do believe it represents the central theme of the Gospel. God loves us so much He gave His only Son to bring us back into loving relationship with Him! I was saved, baptized, and married the love of my life in the spring of 1993. I tried so hard to create the life I thought we should have. I wanted my children to have a better life than I did. I thought I could teach them the life lessons I am only now learning. I worked hard. I took my family to church. I read my bible and prayed every day. I was a strict disciplinarian. I thought I was providing everything they needed. All they really needed is love! Exorcising spiritual gifts and talents without love breeds legalism. Zeal without love is not holiness. It is haughtiness. True zeal for the Lord cannot exist without love. The greatest judgments of God were carried out in love, not despite God’s for us! The most devoted of Jesus’ disciples failed. The Lord’s love never failed! My son walked away from our home before he turned eighteen years old. He lived in bondage to sin for several years. My wife and I went to visit him in jail. The Lord spoke to me that day. He said, “love him”. True love draws us to Jesus. Legalism enslaves us! Going to church, reading our bibles, even praying does not draw people to Christ. God’s love does. If we call ourselves by the name of Christ we must learn to love people the way Jesus does. Cultivate a love for Jesus, return His love and share it with the people He brings into your life! http://www.joyfor2day.com https://twitter.com/JoyFor2day #Joyfor2daydailydevotional
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Louie GarciaJoyfor2day daily devotional goes out over the internet to thousands of people all over the world five days a week
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