Daily Devotional

-February 10, 2021-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

-Without Love We Are Nothing And What We Do Profits Nothing-

“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.”

(1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

1 Corinthians chapter 13 is universally called, “The Love Chapter.” It has 13 verses and all of them speak of God’s love and we can express it to others. Paul wrote this great chapter about the greatest virtue of all. Love is one of the fruit of the Spirit and is mentioned first in Galatians 5:22-23. Paul cannot stress enough its importance and excellence.

The great apostle shares how without love nothing we do or accomplish for the Lord will profit anything, in fact, without love, we are nothing. Our lives without love are as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal, that is with no accompaniment. Paul refers to four great things in Christianity that are meaningless without love: having the gift of prophecy, knowing all mysteries and all knowledge, having faith to remove mountains, giving all one’s goods to feed the poor, and sacrificing one’s body to be burned. These are a good and worthy things, but without love are useless.

Love for God and for one’s neighbor summarize the greatest and second greatest commandments of all. Love is the best quality, the highest motivation, and the best act of service and sacrifice we can render to others. This Sunday is Valentine’s Day. Saint Valentine was a real person, a believer in Christ who was imprisoned for his faith. He sent a red heart from his prison cell to all the saints in his community to encourage them. Love triumphs over all evil, sin, wickedness, difficult circumstances, pain, and sorrow.

Let us reflect upon God’s love for us and how we can show this love to others. John wrote, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8). Love in the world as an emotion or sentiment is wonderful but love as an action or sacrifice is even greater. Love gives, shares, helps, and sacrifices. Love is all about Christ and others, not about me. May we remember that without love we are nothing and anything we do, no matter how great it is, profits nothing.

Have a blessed day loving others as Jesus loves us. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean