1 Cor. 13:1-3-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.
Doesn't matter if you can quote scripture!
Doesn't matter if you can preach good, or use long 50 cent words, that nobody understands, if they don’t love! What good is it?
I've known preachers, that love to hear themselves talk, but I'm not sure, they love the ones they're talking too!!
Doesn't matter if you can sing, if you don’t love! What good is it!
I’ve heard people who can sing, they can sing really well, but it didn’t touch me, or move me and then I’ve heard people who sing that wasn’t the best singer, but they sang with emotion, with conviction, with love, and I was moved by the experience!!!
Doesn't matter if you can put a lot of money in the offering plate, do charitable deeds, if you do it without love, what good is it?
The people handing out shoes to the poor, and they run out of shoes, one homeless guy comes to see if they have any shoes left, and he is told no, and as he turn to leave, a man that was helping, reached down and pulled his shoes off and handed them to the homeless man. One of the workers said, “We were giving out shoes and this man not only gave his shoes, but his heart!!”
Love has to be a constant ingredient in all that you do.
Your singing will be better if you love!!!
If you love what your singing, and Who your singing for, and who your singing too!!
You're given, will be better, if you love!
Preaching, will be better, if you love!
When a congregation falls out of love with preacher or the preacher falls out love with congregation, that’s when the preaching gets bad!!
You're witnessing, will be better, if you love! Cause people are going to see a genuine concern and love from you!!
Because love will motivate you to do better, to act better, to do better, to be better!
The most noble characteristic, you can have is love!!
Paul gives a list of 5 things…tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith, giving, and martyrdom.
These things are listed, to remind us, that they can be done, they can be accomplished, without love!!
Not Everybody Has The Same Gifts, But Everybody Can Love!!
God didn’t just send His love….John 3:16-For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
1 John 3:1-Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
Romans 5:8-But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Not only does He love us, and showed us His love (Jesus dying on a cross) but He has put His love in us and expects us to show our love, not only to Him, but to others also!!
John 13:35-By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Look with me, it is the first on the list of the fruits of the Spirit!!!!
Galatians 5:22-23-But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
People may forget how well you can cook!
People may forget how well you can sing!
But if you love them, if you show compassion towards them, if you're merciful to them,
those things people don't forget!!
Because true love has to be expressed in action!
That’s why when Jesus ask the question, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt. 22:36-40)
John 14:15-If you love Me, keep My commandments.
I think I'm like most people…..Don't just tell me you love me, show me you love me!!
Colossians 3:14-But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
1 Cor. 16:14-Let all that you do be done with love.
Now, the question is…What your doing at church, at home, at work, out in public, even though others might benefit from it, are you doing out of love, or out duty, or out guilt, or out pride?
What motivates you, to do the things you do?
Just because your doing something good, doesn’t mean your doing right!!!
Doing good works are good, but doing good works because of love….That’s better!!!
