Daily Bible Study

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Day 122 1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 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 no love, I am nothing. 3 Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and give my body to be burned, but have no love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 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. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 When that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 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. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know just as I also am known. 13 Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Many people use verses from this chapter in their marriage vows. Yet how many marriages fall apart because they forgot to be kind, showed envy, paraded themselves, puffed themselves up, was easily provoked, rejoiced in sin, not in truth; did not bear anything, believed nothing, had no hope, endured nothing. Love failed. Love is the strongest emotion you can have. Yet too often people use its sister, hatred, in everything they do. They fail to love because they are suspicious of everything. Paul told the Corinthians that the greatest thing they could have in their lives was love. It wasn’t in giving their possessions to the poor or speaking eloquently. It produced nothing more than sounding brass or clanging symbols. Nothing came of all their loud talk. Paul also told them it wasn’t prophecy, or tongues, or knowledge, all that would vanish to nothingness. He reminded them that when they were children, they understood as children. However, when they became adults, they put away childish things. He told them life was like a mirror. they saw its dim reflection. However, when Jesus returned, they would see everything clearly and they would understand because they no longer saw a reflection, they saw face to face. He told them that above everything, three things remained: faith, hope, and love, but the greatest thing they could have was love. Many Christians can recite this chapter. They believe what it says, but not many Christians display love in their lives. Everything they do is done like the world, with suspicion. They also cite this chapter to tell everyone that the gifts of prophecy and tongues no longer exist, they were done away with when the apostles died. They fail to understand what Paul said when he told them that when that which is perfect has come, then everything would cease. Paul talked about Jesus’ return. You won’t need tongues or prophecy or any of the gifts of the Holy Spirit when Jesus returns. Until then, they are yours to use as the Holy Spirit wills. Your life is a dim reflection in the mirror of what it will be like when you see Jesus face to face. Everything you know is nothing compared to what you will understand when you come face to face with your Redeemer. However, until that day, you are to display faith, hope, and love, but especially love. Let it be more than words spoken in your marriage vows. Let it be your life. Then neither your life nor your marriage will fall apart. Let’s pray: Father, help me display love in my life. Let it be more than words on a page, but truth in every fiber of my being. Take away everything negative from my life and let faith, hope, and love guide me, especially love. Help me love others as You love, bearing one another’s burdens, and rejoicing in Your truth. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 15 November 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.