Back to the Bottom Line
- Felicity
- Dec 5, 2016
- 3 min read
Reading through 1 Corinthians, I came to the classic chapter 13—quoted at weddings, framed as art and known well by many. But today it was a stark reminder to me of what its all about. I've been busy working to meet deadlines, trying to fit everything in and also make my faith and relationship with God a priority at the same time. But I realized that love isn't always at the forefront of my mind as my motivation, perspective and core purpose. Don't get me wrong, I know it is important, but I don't always remember that it is of greatest importance:
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13
I can be a woman of faith, with great understanding and wisdom; I can persevere and accomplish many things in my life and for the Kingdom; I can be self-disciplined and work hard in everything I am given, I can overcome temptation and choose to do right—but it is all for naught if it's not all out of love.
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels... if I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains... if I give all I possess to the poor... but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3,8
Love is of the greatest value, and only love will last. Love for the Father, and love for one another. If I get all the things on my “to-do” list accomplished in the day but neglect to encourage and uplift others around me, blind to their needs because my priority is my own—what a tragedy! If I use the gifts God has given me, even thanking Him each morning for a new day, but I do not delight in the love I have for Him and He for me, I'm missing everything.
It is first and foremost about love.
Here are the 2 Greatest Commandments:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. “And the second is like it:
'Love your neighbour as yourself.'” (Matt. 22:37-39)
Love must be my motivation, my central mission and my foundation. It should be my highest priority.
I need to examine my primary focus and bring it back to the bottom line...
To have uncontainable love for Him flowing into contagious love for others;
To have my identity and confidence firmly planted in His love for me.
“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8
“See what great LOVE the Father has lavished on us...” 1 John 3:1
Lord, help me to remember the number one.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more...” Philippians 1:9
Love; it will not betray you Dismay or enslave you
It will set you free
Be more like the man you were made to be
There is a design,
An alignment to cry
Of my heart to see The beauty of love as it was made to be
-Mumford & Sons
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