*MEDITATIONS ON DAILY*
*ⓂANNA*
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7TH, 2025.
*LET LOVE BE YOUR GREATEST*
*TEXT:* 1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-13.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 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, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
*Timeless Truth:*_"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity"_ (1Corinthians 13:13).
*INTRODUCTION*
In order to understand the importance of love in a family, society and nation, can you imagine a scenario where love does not exist at all and everybody from the least to the greatest is interested in his own alone? That community will be worse off than the rapacious and carnivorous animal kingdom. Love is much talked about, but biblical love is seldom understood and rarely practiced. The text is devoted to the subject of love and a lot of light is shown in this all important subject.
*1. The Pre-eminence of Love*
a. "I love you" is the common lip service of the populace and that single compliment, either genuine or fake, has had and still has great influence on people. However, it is possible and even common, to know how to speak "I love you" with an admirable tongue and accent without having the love in the heart. *"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity"*. Speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of being baptized with the Holy Ghost. It has become a public show by some christian artists, some preachers and some prophets as a symbol of spirituality and having the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is possible to have all these gifts without love and in such a case the person has *"become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal"*. A sounding brass or tinkling cymbal is like a script, drama or film without content. It serves no useful purpose to any. This has to do with charisma without love in the heart. The message was to show the Corinthians Church and of course all believers, who pride in their gifts of the Spirit, talents and skills that love is pre-eminent above all.
b. Love is pre-eminent over all gifts including *"the gift of prophecy, and understanding all mysteries, and all knowledge...all faith, (that) could remove mountains and have not charity, I am nothing"*. Gifts minus true love in the heart is nothingness or emptiness as far as God is concerned. It is possible to invest all your treasures in welfarism without love in the heart. The purpose, for example, may be love for applause, praise or for some other selfish reasons. A commercialized gifted preacher may be motivated by financial gains or other profits in his service without love for others. He complains bitterly when the gains are not forthcoming. *"And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor"*. There are people who prefer to die for a cause or for mere religion without the love of God in the heart. Such selfishly believe there are profits in such a kind of sacrifice without the love of God in the heart. *"And though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity"*. The essence of such great sacrifices is for one profit or the other. But the Scriptures is saying that without love all those sacrificial giving or sacrifice of self will not attract any blessings from God. *"It profiteth me nothing"*. So check up if you have love of God and people in your heart before you offer any sacrifice or else the sacrifice will not attract any reward from God.
*Question*
Is there anything you consciously or otherwise exalt above love?
*2. The Practicality of Love*
a. There is a general misunderstanding about what love is. Rather than going into definitions and theology of love, the Apostle was inspired to show the characteristics of love so that anyone can always check if he has this love sufficiently or not. The love here has to do with the God- kind of love which the unregenerate in heart can never have.*"Charity suffereth long"* without being fed up or irritated after being subjected to painful sufferings or maltreatment due to carelessness, hatred, misunderstanding and misrepresentation of brethren and sinners. *"And is kind"* with bowels of compassion flowing out to others. He is considerate of others. He is never a proud person and neither does he have a superiority mentality. He rejoices at the blessings of others without being envious. When you are not happy at the blessings of others, it is an indication that your love for them is not genuine. *"Charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up"*. The loving moderates his behaviour to make sure that it is not hurting or offending others. It is not selfish and therefore, it zealously, without being passive, seeks the good of others.
*"Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own"*. Where someone gets irritated or offended easily about the behaviour of others, it is a show of lack of true and godly love. Love does not think, conceive or accommodate evil happening to others in his heart for any reason. His thoughts about others, including those who hate him is goodness *"Is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil"*.
b. How does love feel in the presence of sin or when it sees others fall into defeat? Does he say, "it serves him well?". Love is not happy because sin is opposed to the love of God. *"Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth"*. It does not like false doctrines and does not give attention or admire, either secretly or openly, their propagators. He is a lover of the truth and hater of errors. Furthermore, love is elastic. You can stretch it long without breaking. As a result, it can absorb and bear much pain and injury from others. *"Beareth all things"*. It can endure hardship even when he does not merit it. He always lives in faith that better things are coming and that others will one day change for the better. Love is ever optimistic and not pessimistic. *"Believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things"*.
*Question*
From these characteristics of love, will you claim you have this God-kind of love in its fullness?
*3. The Permanence of Love*
a. Many things change when transiting from the present world to the world beyond. Such things are transient and not permanent. For example, the gift of prophecies, speaking in tongues, and all our imperfect knowledge will all give way after crossing the narrow gate. They will give way to that which is only perfect. However, the fact is that charity remains in the heart even after death on the way to eternity. Charity is an eternal and permanent companion. Therefore, it must be well cultivated and fully cherished. *"Charity never faileth; but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away"*. Things that are permanent or eternal are more important than things that are temporary.
b. We must grow in love through passionate desire and prayer of faith for deeper love of the brethren unto perfection. A barometer for measuring growth is growth in love. Just as a child grows into adulthood so must our love grow. *"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things"*. There are traits of lack of love that may be permissible when someone is new in the faith. Such things must be gotten rid off by a truly growing believer. This love, with all its characteristics, must be consciously practiced against all forms of self will. If we make efforts to grow in faith, much more, we must make efforts to grow in love for God and our neighbours especially the brethren. If you are not growing in love you will be growing cold and depreciating in love.
*"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity"*.
*Question*
Think back at your previous years in the faith. Are you growing in love for brethren or are you diminishing?
*Prayer Points*
1.Lord, I praise You for the perfect love You have for me. Give me more grace to reciprocate that love .
2.Teach me and give me more power and grace to grow in love for the brethren .
3.Let the Spirit of true love descend and magnify itself in the heart of every believer .
4.We ask for the characteristics of love to be more visible among brethren .
*HYMN* Somebody needs your love
*BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:*
NEHEMIAH 5-7.
Buy the truth and sell it not. Your eternity and holiness is not for sale.
*MEDITATIONS ON DAILY*
*ⓂANNA*
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7TH, 2025.
*LET LOVE BE YOUR GREATEST*
*TEXT:* 1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-13.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 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, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
*Timeless Truth:*_"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity"_ (1Corinthians 13:13).
*INTRODUCTION*
In order to understand the importance of love in a family, society and nation, can you imagine a scenario where love does not exist at all and everybody from the least to the greatest is interested in his own alone? That community will be worse off than the rapacious and carnivorous animal kingdom. Love is much talked about, but biblical love is seldom understood and rarely practiced. The text is devoted to the subject of love and a lot of light is shown in this all important subject.
*1. The Pre-eminence of Love*
a. "I love you" is the common lip service of the populace and that single compliment, either genuine or fake, has had and still has great influence on people. However, it is possible and even common, to know how to speak "I love you" with an admirable tongue and accent without having the love in the heart. *"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity"*. Speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of being baptized with the Holy Ghost. It has become a public show by some christian artists, some preachers and some prophets as a symbol of spirituality and having the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is possible to have all these gifts without love and in such a case the person has *"become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal"*. A sounding brass or tinkling cymbal is like a script, drama or film without content. It serves no useful purpose to any. This has to do with charisma without love in the heart. The message was to show the Corinthians Church and of course all believers, who pride in their gifts of the Spirit, talents and skills that love is pre-eminent above all.
b. Love is pre-eminent over all gifts including *"the gift of prophecy, and understanding all mysteries, and all knowledge...all faith, (that) could remove mountains and have not charity, I am nothing"*. Gifts minus true love in the heart is nothingness or emptiness as far as God is concerned. It is possible to invest all your treasures in welfarism without love in the heart. The purpose, for example, may be love for applause, praise or for some other selfish reasons. A commercialized gifted preacher may be motivated by financial gains or other profits in his service without love for others. He complains bitterly when the gains are not forthcoming. *"And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor"*. There are people who prefer to die for a cause or for mere religion without the love of God in the heart. Such selfishly believe there are profits in such a kind of sacrifice without the love of God in the heart. *"And though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity"*. The essence of such great sacrifices is for one profit or the other. But the Scriptures is saying that without love all those sacrificial giving or sacrifice of self will not attract any blessings from God. *"It profiteth me nothing"*. So check up if you have love of God and people in your heart before you offer any sacrifice or else the sacrifice will not attract any reward from God.
*Question*
Is there anything you consciously or otherwise exalt above love?
*2. The Practicality of Love*
a. There is a general misunderstanding about what love is. Rather than going into definitions and theology of love, the Apostle was inspired to show the characteristics of love so that anyone can always check if he has this love sufficiently or not. The love here has to do with the God- kind of love which the unregenerate in heart can never have.*"Charity suffereth long"* without being fed up or irritated after being subjected to painful sufferings or maltreatment due to carelessness, hatred, misunderstanding and misrepresentation of brethren and sinners. *"And is kind"* with bowels of compassion flowing out to others. He is considerate of others. He is never a proud person and neither does he have a superiority mentality. He rejoices at the blessings of others without being envious. When you are not happy at the blessings of others, it is an indication that your love for them is not genuine. *"Charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up"*. The loving moderates his behaviour to make sure that it is not hurting or offending others. It is not selfish and therefore, it zealously, without being passive, seeks the good of others.
*"Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own"*. Where someone gets irritated or offended easily about the behaviour of others, it is a show of lack of true and godly love. Love does not think, conceive or accommodate evil happening to others in his heart for any reason. His thoughts about others, including those who hate him is goodness *"Is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil"*.
b. How does love feel in the presence of sin or when it sees others fall into defeat? Does he say, "it serves him well?". Love is not happy because sin is opposed to the love of God. *"Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth"*. It does not like false doctrines and does not give attention or admire, either secretly or openly, their propagators. He is a lover of the truth and hater of errors. Furthermore, love is elastic. You can stretch it long without breaking. As a result, it can absorb and bear much pain and injury from others. *"Beareth all things"*. It can endure hardship even when he does not merit it. He always lives in faith that better things are coming and that others will one day change for the better. Love is ever optimistic and not pessimistic. *"Believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things"*.
*Question*
From these characteristics of love, will you claim you have this God-kind of love in its fullness?
*3. The Permanence of Love*
a. Many things change when transiting from the present world to the world beyond. Such things are transient and not permanent. For example, the gift of prophecies, speaking in tongues, and all our imperfect knowledge will all give way after crossing the narrow gate. They will give way to that which is only perfect. However, the fact is that charity remains in the heart even after death on the way to eternity. Charity is an eternal and permanent companion. Therefore, it must be well cultivated and fully cherished. *"Charity never faileth; but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away"*. Things that are permanent or eternal are more important than things that are temporary.
b. We must grow in love through passionate desire and prayer of faith for deeper love of the brethren unto perfection. A barometer for measuring growth is growth in love. Just as a child grows into adulthood so must our love grow. *"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things"*. There are traits of lack of love that may be permissible when someone is new in the faith. Such things must be gotten rid off by a truly growing believer. This love, with all its characteristics, must be consciously practiced against all forms of self will. If we make efforts to grow in faith, much more, we must make efforts to grow in love for God and our neighbours especially the brethren. If you are not growing in love you will be growing cold and depreciating in love.
*"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity"*.
*Question*
Think back at your previous years in the faith. Are you growing in love for brethren or are you diminishing?
*Prayer Points*
1.Lord, I praise You for the perfect love You have for me. Give me more grace to reciprocate that love 🙏.
2.Teach me and give me more power and grace to grow in love for the brethren 🙏.
3.Let the Spirit of true love descend and magnify itself in the heart of every believer 🙏.
4.We ask for the characteristics of love to be more visible among brethren 🙏.
*HYMN* Somebody needs your love
*BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:*
NEHEMIAH 5-7.
Buy the truth and sell it not. Your eternity and holiness is not for sale.