Decades ago, the men and women who planted the Mandarin Church of Christ prayerfully came up with a phrase to designate the personality they determined would be our identifying marker: A Place to Love and Be Loved.
This is a critical designation. In I Corinthians 13:1-3, Paul says,
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.
In this sobering passage, Paul makes it clear that without love:
· Nothing I say will matter;
· Nothing I know will matter;
· Nothing I believe will matter;
· Nothing I give will matter;
· Nothing I accomplish will matter.
There has never been a more important time than now to show the world we are followers of Jesus by our love; love for people who don’t look like us, love for people who don’t agree with us, love for people we find the most difficult to love.
Paul continues in chapter 13 by describing this love with words of action. Paul says this love is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered. This love keeps no record of wrongs. This love always protects, always hopes, always trusts, always perseveres. This love never fails.
This week, you and I will experience conflict somewhere along the way. When we do, may God help us to choose love!
-Mike Johnson