Welcome to the PoG Blog! As I prayed this morning I heard myself telling God that I had never seen Him, but I wanted to. I have never seen the face of God and I probably won’t, this side of heaven. But I have felt and seen him moving, and I know He is at work. This morning, I had this intense desire to truly know God and to hear him. We can get to know God and hear Him more clearly if we take the time to listen to Him. Pray that God will allow you to concentrate on His Word, and put everything else aside, for the next few minutes – so that you can truly hear the voice of God.
1 Corinthians 13: 1 - 7 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love. The message last Sunday was entitled, “Growing Up – Together”. When I think of growing spiritually, the first thing I think about is love. Am I more of a man of love today than I was a year ago? When people describe me, do they say “he loves God and he loves others”?
This chapter of 1 Corinthians helps us by putting some definition or nuance around the concept of love. What does it really mean for us to love someone the way Christ loves us? Are we patient, kind, satisfied with what we have, humble, selfless, self-controlled, forgiving, and truthful? The list gives us a great way of checking ourselves. Perhaps most people we know would not use some of those words to describe us. That is where we have the opportunity to come to God and pray for a changed heart.
Look into your heart and your life and conduct an audit. Then pray that God will send his Holy Spirit to you today to give you a new heart. A heart full of love for Him and for others. May God grant it for Jesus’ sake!
Mark