1 Corinthians 13:1-8 - If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love envies not; love flaunts not itself and is not puffed up, 5 does not behave itself improperly, seeks not its own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; 6 rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But if there are prophecies, they shall fail; if there are tongues, they shall cease; and if there is knowledge, it shall vanish.
Talk is cheap! Love is an action word. Where "love" is concerned, action speaks louder than words. Saying and doing must go hand in hand. There is no way for one to exist without the other.
The Apostle Paul reminds us invs#1-4 that even if we have the gift of speaking all human languages and of angels, or could prophesy, understand all secrets and knowledge, have faith that moved mountains or gave away all that we own, including ourselves to be burned, we would still have benefited nothing for without love all of these things means nothing.
Saying and doing are like hands and gloves. The 2 need each other.
I am reminded of a story of the greatest example of love that was displayed for the entire world to see over 2k years ago on a hill called "Calvary" where my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, out of love, died just for me.
Jesus proclaimed His love for me even before the foundation of the world, He wrote it in the Bible for me to read (John 3:16) and he fulfilled it with His life on Golgotha hill one day in the front of many witnesses that included, murderers, mockers, onlookers, false accusers, hateful and jealous religious leaders, roman soldiers, his mother, disciples, friends and many others.
Yes, "Love" was displayed and witnessed that day. Love died, was buried and arose 3 days later to prove that "LOVE" is not a one time thing, it is a person that lives forever in eternity in the person of Jesus Christ.
"LOVE" suffered long for 33 years on earth, it did not envy nor flaunt itself in pride, love seek not its own for scripture says Love died so we can live. Love does not rejoice in others pain or iniquity, but in truth. Love bears, believes, hopes and endure all things.
Christ is indeed a picture of love.
What does your life display to the world today? Is it a picture of love? If not, why? Jesus left us with a physical example of love in putting others before Himself.
God bless.
Debra