Knowledge vs Love

Scripture: We know that we all possess knowledge.  Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.  But the man who loves God is known by God. I Corinthians 8:1b-3

Observation: Paul is teaching the Corinth church the importance of loving the Lord.  He is teaching them that being a believer is about the relationship they have with their Heavenly Father and not necessarily how much “God” knowledge they have.   “If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.” I Corinthians 13:1-7  The Message

Application: I  know many  very intelligent people, sadly that intelligence is keeping them from understanding and believing in Jesus Christ. They let scientific stories blind them to the truth of creation and our Heaven Father’s wish for a relationship with them.  Even more sad are believers I know who have bible smarts, have served in their church, given their tithe faithfully and yet their heart is cold and hard.  They are in church every Sunday wearing appropriate clothing and they know the words to every hymn, (puffed up).  Unfortunately they are missing the best part of being a believer and that is loving the Lord with all their heart through worship, hearing his word spoken in new and refreshing ways and ministering to those in need.  Love is everything to the Lord.  Our relationship with him and others should show that love (build up).  Only then will we stand before our Lord and he will acknowledge us as his children.

Prayer: Lord, I want with all my heart to be set apart from this world.   I want to be found by you as a child who spent  their life loving you. I pray that my relationship with you will be an example of your love.  Lord I ask that you show me if I have even the smallest area of disobedience in my life.  Refine me Lord and let me know and love you in an intimate way.  Amen

Laurie