"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing" 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Although there is probably no better-known Bible passage than 1 Corinthians 13, familiarity with it does not automatically translate into practice. This "more excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31) is so desperately needed in the world today, because the increase of wickedness is rapidly cooling off the fire of genuine love (Matthew 24:12).

The highest form of love is a love of action. The word, "love," used in 1 Corinthians 13, comes from the Greek word, "agape," and refers to sacrificial love such as demonstrated by Jesus in His life of service and His sacrificial death. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends" John 15:13. It is this highest form of love that is to be the sole distinguishing mark of followers of Jesus (John 13:35).

As emotionally touching as 1 Corinthians 13 is, love is not merely mushy sentimentality. Love is the driving force behind truth, faith, endurance and hope ("rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" 1 Corinthians 13:6-7). Without love truth become irrelevant, and endurance, faith, and hope are diminished. Love truly is the passion that energizes spiritual vitality.

A loveless marriage is not really a marriage, nor is a loveless Christian life really a Christian life. The essence of it all is love for God and others (Matthew 23:36-40). Without passionate love for our Father His truth becomes unimportant as do His promises. Love for the Father enables genuine love for others.

While love is the priority, I sometimes am troubled when I see the icy winds of indifference blowing in my own life. It's easy enough to love those who love me, but what about the lost and dying all around? Do I truly care about those who will not enter the kingdom of God unless they undergo radical spiritual transformation? What would the compassion that can only be stirred by love cause me to do and say?

The world does need more love if true change is to occur. Love will open hearts to the rule of Christ, and will champion truth, endurance, faith and hope. It will make us the kinder, gentler people that the world desperately needs and wants.

Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/ & https://kingdomdreamer.blogspot.com/

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