(Begin with 1-2 minutes of silence)
1 Corinthians 13:2 …[if I] can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
Read this verse again slowly. Especially the last three words – I am nothing. Sometimes it’s difficult for scholars to appropriately translate a word from ancient Greek into modern English. But this isn’t one of those occasions. The word here is easily translated as nothing or not a thing.
Here, the Holy Spirit was instilling within Paul a profound sense of wisdom. A person can do a lot of good things. She can go to school and become extremely well educated. She can grow in faith and believe that God can and will work in wondrous ways. But if she does so with a heart devoid of love…she is nothing.
In the Emotionally Healthy Discipleship Course, Peter Scazzero notes a similar observation through Jesus’ teaching of the good samaritan. Scazzero writes, “For Jesus, our love for God is measured by the degree to which we love others.”
READING & PRAYERS:
1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-13, LUKE 10:25-37, JOHN 13:34 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: How do you understand the words I am nothing at the end of 1 Corinthians 13:2?
DIGGING DEEPER: Prayerfully consider the level of your love for God. If it’s true that the measure of your love for God is measured by the degree to which you love others, what is your current level of love for God? Is there anybody you currently do not love? What would it look like to begin loving them?
Take a Step: Practice listening to God by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice a day.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I recognize there are some people in my life who may not be my enemies, but I would not say I love them well. Continue to instill within me a heart for others, including those who see the world differently than myself. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(End with 1-2 minutes of silence.)
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