Christian Living

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1 Corinthians 13:1-3 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling 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, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."

Today we are blessed with understanding of spiritual things as never before. The bible has been translated in many ways and made easily digestible to anyone who desires to know more about the Lord and His will. I am blessed as well as amazed by the prophetic words that I hear and see from many of the Lord's messengers and I know this is but a glimpse of the power and wisdom the Lord has given to them that are His.

However there are times when I question the condition of our hearts. What is the motive behind the work we do in the name of Jesus? You see, I don't believe we press diligently enough in the area of love. We tend to seek the move affirming gifts of the spirit for the most part. We believe if we can speak in heavenly tongues everyone will know that we are filled with the Holy Spirit. We think if we can share a prophetic word with others it will validate our ability to hear from the Lord as if we had anything to do with the Lord's desire to use us as a vessel. We give large offerings in hopes that others will see this as an indicator of how much faith we have. But none of these things can ever take the place of what lies in the heart of a person.

Every gift we are given from the Lord is given because of the love He has towards us. The gifts are there to aid us in our pursuit of knowledge and truth through the Word of God. The gifts we operate in must never take the place of the Word of God nor should it be used without the love of Christ as the motive. The gift is but a part of something greater which we must strive to attain. The gift is given but we must learn to love.

The root of the Christian faith is love and the mortar which holds us together is love. The first fruit of the spirit named is love and love is the evidence of a true believer. If love is so important to the life of the Christian, shouldn't we pursue understanding and operating in the love of God rather than the receipt and use of spiritual gifts?

"Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away."


Continue to press!

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