Good morning! Sometimes it’s easy to rely on things that are comfortable and familiar, but when God wants to use us we can always expect to be stretched because He loves us. Trust His love above comfort and familiarity of spiritual gifts, and He will lead you into a greater relationship with Him and broader gifts. Join me as we continue to read 1 Corinthians chapter 13.

“⁸ Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages^[b] and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! ⁹ Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! ¹⁰ But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.” – 1 Corinthians 13:8-9 NLT

Paul is clear on the topic of spiritual gifts. As Paul further explains the importance of love, he reminds us that although we may have the gifts to know things and hear direct messages from God (gift of knowledge and prophesy), we are still limited by time, ability and God’s will to limit what we know about the future.

Brothers and sisters, spiritual gifts are beneficiary for the body of Christ, but temporal. Our perfect Father, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, and the Holy Spirit who dwells within us leads us to a place where and when are gifts are used, but when perfection is complete Love is what will remain. Without love, these gifts become useless.

When you prepare to do the next big event, the next project at work, to be superwoman or superman, remember your gifts are limited to an extent, but in everything you do, do it in love. Do it in love that brings glory to God’s name. Do it in love to show people a better way. Do it in love and not out of selfish motives or attention, but to embrace love as the root cause.

Sisters and brothers, how will you show love today? __________ (e.g., toward your coworker, boss, teacher, classmate, church member, ex-spouse, estranged family member, a stranger, or even a politician)

If you are not sure, ask God to give you an opportunity to love, serve or be used by Him today.

Lord, we want to love like you love.

We want the love that will last.

Father God, thank you for this beautiful morning. Lord, thank you for Your provision over our lives. Lord, we may not know everything, but we certainly know You. Thank you for revealing yourself to us. Thank you for coming down in flesh as Jesus Christ to show us how to love one another. Lord, thank you for your love that took You to the cross for our sins. Lord, we want to always remember Your words on love over the world’s interpretation of love. Lord, write these verses on our heart:

• Ephesians 4:2: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
• 1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
• John 15:12: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
• 1 John 4:7-8: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
• 1 John 4:10-12: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

Lord God, thank you for never giving up on us. Live in us and allow your Holy Spirit to overflow from within us, so that people will see and feel your presence in our lives and in the world. Lord, we pray for the sick and ask for you to heal their bodies. Lord, we pray for marriages and ask for restoration. Lord, we pray for those recovering from surgery and ask for complete recovery. Lord, we pray for those who are grieving and ask for your comfort and peace within their hearts. Lord, we pray for the safety of children around the world. We pray for missionaries and pastors, that you will make them bold, examples of faith, love and integrity, and have a heart of humility. Lord, strengthen their faith, strengthen Your church in the knowledge of Your word and let the church and its people be filled with Your love, mercy and grace. Lord, keep working in us. Make Your love complete in us. In Jesus name, amen.

Keep praying! Keep Trusting! Keep believing!

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