Anything Minus Love Equals Nothing
Loving Heavenly Father, I am in a rough spot right now. The Christmas season always weighs more heavily on me, with church responsibilities requiring more time and thought than throughout much of the rest of the year. There are other contributing factors, but as I sat here contemplating which direction to go, I think forward is best. Help me to see You above all else, for if I can accomplish that, I am certain that all else will fall into place. Amen.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (<<click here to read the passage)
Something I frequently hear on my elementary bus is students reciting the alphabet or counting from one to one hundred. It is more prominent in that the primary grades – K, 1, and 2 – sit closest to me. It’s fun that they often do it in unison – at least two and occasionally more.
Last year, I recall a few 3rd Graders standing up front waiting to get off for school, and they were asking each other math questions. One that got thrown into the mix quite a few times was, what is this number times zero? And, of course, the sum of the equation, no matter what the first number was, was zero.
As I read through the first few verses in this infamous 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians – known by many as the “love chapter” in the Bible – it dawned on me that anything minus love equals nothing.
The Apostle Paul quickly goes through the gifts of speaking in other languages, prophecy, faith, and giving to others, and in each, he exclaims that if love is not a part of the equation, he would be nothing or that he would have gained nothing. vs2,3 NLT
As a whole, I don’t know if the Church so much focuses on finding and using the vast array of gifts available through the Holy Spirit, but there are readily obvious ones, and they run with them. Some that might fit into that category are teaching or helping others or leadership (v28). We all know people who “do” those things, and unfortunately, if we don’t seem to have what it takes to do those, we tend to sit back and not really do anything at all.
It’s important that we diligently seek out the gift (or gifts) given to us by the Spirit, but of greatest importance is that every single one of them is seasoned with love. Hold on a second, that smacks too much of a pinch or a dash of love. It needs to be understood that each and every one of the Holy Spirit’s gifts that we express but literally immersed…saturated with love – not a dash but a dunking!
Far too often, believers tend to omit love. We charge ahead doing what we think God wants us to do, and love is left on the bench. We can often talk a good game, but when we hit the floor, the field, or wherever we may go, love has to go with us. It has to lead us. It has to fill us. And when we pass on, the scent of love should linger for years to come. O Lord, may this be our life!
Dec 12th, 2023, Mon, 6:25 pm
A Pizza Has Many Parts
Father, it is one of those evenings that I must call on You to help bring my thoughts together. Enable my words to accomplish what You need them to. Use me as You will. Amen.
1 Corinthians 12:12-31 (<<click here to read the passage)
One of the best jobs of my entire life was when I was a children’s pastor before the turn of the century (now that sounds weird!) But from 1995-2000, that was what I did. I was responsible for approximately 100 children from birth through 6th Grade. Karen was my sidekick, and we did all kinds of wonderful things.
One program we instigated was called Ready, Set, Go! We would set up an outing to a local establishment and tie in a lesson and thematic snack to back it up! One that comes to mind was a trip to the local cat shelter. They got to play with the cats, and then we talked about how we are adopted into God’s family like the cats would hopefully be into people’s families. Our snack was crazy that night, but the kids ate it up – literally! We made “kitty litter” – crushed Honey Nut Cheerios, Tootsie Rolls dipped in marshmallow cream, and then rolled in some of the dust from the Cheerios. Yes, it was gross, but what do you expect? I worked with kids!
Another time, we visited a pizza shop, and we used today’s passage. The Apostle Paul stated,
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. v12 NLT
To make the connection with our kids, we tweaked the passage a bit and spoke of a “pizza” with many parts. I have no idea where I would find the lesson we used, but leave it to say that we talked about pepperoni and mushrooms and cheese, amongst other ingredients. All together, they all make a great pizza! It helped them connect with what God was saying through Paul.
As adults, it fails to some degree in that we know that many enjoy just a plain cheese pizza, though even that has multiple components – usually several types of cheese, tomato sauce, and, of course, the ingredients to make the crust.
With the multiplicity of gifts, the Church is a wonderful melting pot of many personalities and mindsets – a conglomeration of people from all walks of life and backgrounds making up the Body of Christ. We are so much better together than apart. What makes our combination even better is that working this way makes us even better at reaching out to the world. One ingredient all alone isn’t very enticing, but put us all together and – look out world! – have we got something for you!?
Lord Jesus, first of all, thank You for bringing these thoughts to mind – it is because of You that this is what it is! Then, most importantly, help us cherish our differences as we all contribute our unique ingredients to the whole. May we love and accept each part as we rejoice in our diversity and the tremendous impact we can expect from exposing the world to what true Christianity can be. Amen!
Dec 10th, 2023, Sun, 7:37 pm
Little Timmy, Big Tom
The wind is still nippy, but it is a beautiful day, Father. Thank You for the opportunity to do a few things outside!
********
This morning, as I often do, I watched a few reels on TikTok. This one came up; it is too great a story not to share. Here’s the text of what was shared. If you’d prefer to listen to it, there is a link at the bottom. (You may have to have TikTok to listen to it.) All that needs to be said is here. It is lengthy but well worth the read.
****
There was a school with a class of students that no teacher had been able to handle. Two or three teachers had been run off from this school in one year by the unruly students.
A young man, just out of college, heard about the class and applied to the school. The principal asked the young man, “Do you know what you are asking for? No one else has been able to handle these students. You are just asking for a terrible beating.”
After a few moments of silent prayer, the young man looked at the principal and said, “Sir, with your consent I accept the challenge. Just give me a trial basis.”
The next morning the young man stood before the class He said to the class, “Young people, I came here today to conduct school. But I realize I can’t do it by myself. I must have your help.”
One big boy, they called Big Tom, in the back of the room whispered to his buddies, “I won’t need any help. I can lick that little bird all by myself.”
The young teacher told the class that if they were to have school, there would have to be some rules to go by. But he also added that he would allow the students to make up the rules and that he would list them on the blackboard.
This was certainly different, the students thought! One young man suggested “NO STEALING.” Another one shouted, “BE ON TIME FOR CLASS.”
Pretty soon they had 10 rules listed on the board. The teacher then asked the class what the punishment should be for breaking these rules. “The rules are no good unless they are enforced”, he said.
Someone in the class suggested that if the rules were broken, they should receive 10 licks with a rod across their back with their coat off. The teacher thought that this is pretty harsh, so he asked the class if they would stand by this punishment. The class agreed. Everything went along pretty good for two or three days.
Then Big Tom came in one day very upset. He declared that someone had stolen his lunch. After talking with the students, they came to the conclusion that little Timmy had stolen Big Tom’s lunch. Someone had seen little Timmy with Big Tom’s lunch!
The teacher called little Timmy up to the front of the classroom. Little Timmy admitted he had taken Big Tom’s lunch. So, the teacher asked him, “Do you know the punishment?”
Little Tim! nodded that he did. “You must remove your coat,” the teacher instructed. The little fellow had come with a great big coat on. Little Timmy said to the teacher, “I am guilty, and I am willing to take my punishment, but please don’t make me take off my coat?”
The teacher reminded little Timmy of the rules and punishments and again told him he must remove his coat and take his punishment like a man.
The little fellow started to unbutton that old coat. As he did so, the teacher saw he did not have a shirt on under the coat. And even worse, he saw a frail and bony frame hidden beneath that coat. The teacher asked little Timmy why he had come to school without a shirt on. Little Timmy replied, “My daddy’s dead, and my mother is very poor. I don’t have but one shirt and my mother is washing it today. I wore my big brother’s coat so that I could keep warm.”
That young teacher stood and looked at the frail back with the spine protruding against the skin, and his ribs sticking out. He wondered how he could lay a rod on that little back and without even a shirt on. Still, he knew he must enforce the punishment, or the children would not obey the rules. So, he drew back to strike little Timmy. Just then Big Tom stood up and came down the aisle.
He asked, “Is there anything that says that I can’t take little Timmy’s whipping for him?” The teacher thought about it and agreed. With that, Big Tom ripped his coat off and stooped, and stood over little Timmy at the desk. Hesitatingly the teacher began to lay the rod on that big back. But for some strange reason after only five licks that old rod just broke in half.
The young teacher buried his face in his hands and began to sob. He heard a commotion and looked up to find not even one dry eye in the classroom. Little Timmy had turned and grabbed Big Tom around the neck apologizing to him for stealing his lunch. Little Timmy begged Big Tom to forgive him. He told Big Tom that he would love him till the day he died for taking his whipping for him.
Likewise, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, took our whipping for us! He shed His precious blood on Calvary so that you and I can have eternal life in Glory with Him. We are unworthy of the price He paid for us, but that’s how great God’s love is for us. He does not want us to perish, but to have everlasting life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16-17 KJV
@hespeakstruth Jesus Saves. #SAMA28 #Truth #life #Jesus #love #beating #redemtion #cross #sin #saved @Lucas @One way ♡ Jesus @✝️Carina✝️ @Alles Of Niks @Tasja @Son of the Law @Andre_2Timothy_4v2-5 @Tyler Pienaar @isa_erasmus7
Dec 7th, 2023, Thurs, 12:48 pm
Is Our Testimony Falling on Deaf Ears?
The feeders outside my windows are getting their fill. Father, may I be filled and directed by You in my endeavors, both now and throughout my day. Amen.
**********
I recently was part of a conversation where I was reminded of a life-impacting incident that took place a while back. It is disheartening, to say the least.
Person “A” was greatly impacted, spiritually, by a relationship with Person “B”. “B” was very vocal about their relationship with Christ and never passed up an opportunity to interject opinions and thoughts (nothing wrong there). “B” was someone that “A” looked up to. “A” had even started attending church with “B,” and their families had grown close because of their relationship.
In their time together, “A” began to notice some disturbing things in “B”’s life – “B” often spoke in disparaging terms about others behind their backs. One time, “A” was privy to a conversation that “B” had with someone else where “B” very clearly – and strongly – advised the third party to out-and-out lie. Red flags were going up.
An additional major incident totally disconnected them…and disappointingly, it pretty much disconnected “A” from the church as well.
I’m going to be pretty blunt here. If you struggle in living out your Christianity and yet continue to rail on everyone and everything that is subpar spiritually, then maybe you had best should hold your tongue! I genuinely believe that “A” still highly regards Christ in life, but regular church attendance doesn’t really factor into it. (I do want to stress here that though it may be a challenge, we must fix our eyes on Jesus and not people. “A” wanted me to make sure this was clear. They are still struggling with the impact of the situation, but realize the need to move beyond it, taking their eyes off the problem and placing them on the Answer, for only Jesus can fix a good many of our problems.)
Just because we tout Christ and His many awesome attributes, it doesn’t cover up the disparaging things we do in opposition to His mindsets and goals for our lives. Actions truly speak louder than words. If we struggle in those areas and don’t really do anything to correct them, if we continue in those ways of living, if we never ask for forgiveness of our fellow men and women when we are out of line, then we are being hypocrites through and through. And a hypocrite’s testimony, no matter how loud, falls on deaf ears.
I have stressed multiple times that I am in no way perfect. I struggle. I stumble. I flat out fall on my face. But I put great effort into not saying something I shouldn’t say. I diligently strive not to drag Christ’s name through the mud. To a certain degree, it may be part of my personality, but it is imperative that I live out what I preach – and not just from the pulpit.
Lord Jesus, You know us through and through. You readily realize that a portion of the hymn O Worship the King’s text very aptly applies to us all: Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail…May we find our strength in You, not in ourselves. May we regularly fall at Your feet, asking for forgiveness. May we strive to be transparent to those who are watching us. May You be seen in us above all other things. Amen.
I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20 AMP
Dec 6th, 2023, Wed, 12:36 pm
If You’re Looking for a “Catch” – It’s Surrender
I am grateful, Father, for Your many blessings! May our time together be fruitful!
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (<<click here to read the passage)
As I sit to write, I decided to see what, if anything, I have written regarding the topic of “spiritual gifts” found in these verses. I came across four posts of substance on the subject.
1. No Girls Allowed! – which looks at spiritual gifts as they relate to the ministry of women in the church
2. Think Outside the Walls – which addresses the idea that spiritual gifts can be used to impact more than just those in the church
3. Integral Parts of the Whole – includes recourses for discovering the gifts you may have and might even realize!
And then yesterday,
4. Are We on the Same Page? – which addresses the equality and unity found in the Church of Christ, i.e., the body of Christ
Here is today’s passage from the Amplified Bible.
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit [the spiritual illumination and the enabling of the Holy Spirit] for the common good. To one is given through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] the message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] the word of knowledge and understanding according to the same Spirit; to another [wonder-working] faith [is given] by the same [Holy] Spirit, and to another the [extraordinary] gifts of healings by the one Spirit; and to another the working of miracles, and to another prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and to another discernment of spirits [the ability to distinguish sound, godly doctrine from the deceptive doctrine of man-made religions and cults], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues. All these things [the gifts, the achievements, the abilities, the empowering] are brought about by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, distributing to each one individually just as He chooses.
There are so many wonderful things to be found in surrendering our lives to Jesus. But if we are looking for a “catch,” there it is. If we insist on being in charge of our lives, nothing will truly be as it should be. Surrender is just that…surrender.
We have it in our heads that surrender is bad, and from a worldly standpoint, it certainly can be. But we are not talking of the world. We are talking about God, His Kingdom, and our part in it.
Every one of us was created by our awesome Creator God. We were made for a reason, and the only way to fully become what we were made to be is to yield ourselves to Him – He who knows us best and loves us most.
It has crossed my mind many times, and honestly, I am still striving for it; what would my life be like if I did, on every front, totally yield my life to Him? It can be done, but for many of us, it is a process. I don’t know about you, but I’m not giving up!
Run [your race] in such a way that you may seize the prize and make it yours! 1 Corinthians 9:24b AMP