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Today's Devotional, 1 Corinthians 12:31, 13:1-2, 13:13 “Restoration Through Love”
Today my “Brothers and Sisters” in Jesus Christ, the God-head (God the Father, God the Son—Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost) brings a word of restoration, goodwill, encouragement, and instruction for the Global Church Body of Jesus Christ, every “True Believer,” and people hunger for the living-salvation of Jesus Christ. The message is without “True Love” you are nothing in the sight of God. The question presented to you today, are you “Excellent” or “Nothing?”
The Word of God was sent to the Apostle Paul to instruct the people concerning diversities of spiritual gifts in operation. For the “Spirit” was given not just for one person, religion, or even to profit for self-gratification, but for the Global Church Body of Jesus Christ to profit souls to advance the Kingdom of God through love. There are three lessons to learn from the content of the scriptures. The first is to covet earnestly the excellent gift. The second is without love you are nothing. The third is out of all the spiritual gifts, “Love” is the greatest.
This brought me into reflection of one of the greatest messages I heard during an early morning Manna Service from the late Bishop G. E. Patterson from these very passages of scripture. He taught profoundly the Church Body of Jesus Christ, about the more excellent gift, “Love.” I could hear the “Spirit” saying once again, a message for the people “Restoration Through Love.” Out of all the diversities of spiritual gifts “Love” is the excellent and greatest gift. We are in a world that has lost sight of what “True Love” really means, the Church Body of Jesus Christ has lost sight of what “True Love” really means, families have lost sight of what “True Love” really means, communities have lost sight of what “True Love” really means, and political parties in countries has lost sight of what “True Love” really means. There is a lot of showmanship, injustice, hate-crimes at record highs, and words spoken with no essence, as sounding brass that tinkles the ears for just a moment. Where is the “Love?”
We as the people of God, must heed to the Word of God, not conform to the world, but be transformed through the Word of God in “Love.” The Lord is saying today; the Global Church Body of Jesus Christ must stand-up and be the Church, representing the “Light of Jesus.” We are the hope through Jesus, in a dark world to restore love, life, and the message of salvation. Jesus is soon to return for the saints; we will not be judged on our works, how well we spoke, our benevolence to the poor, but on the greatest commandment –love, to advance the Kingdom of God.
Lessons Learned About Restoration Through Love
In teaching youth in the biblical principles connected to practical principles, I was reminded of this simple—powerful commandment, Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Hear; O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shall love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” This means your total existence.
In the scripture, 1 Corinthians 12:31, ends with AFTER discussing all the spiritual gifts, “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. This my brothers and sisters is what we should all be striving for; “A More Excellent Way.” Yes, we are to value and guard the spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit of Jesus, but the spiritual gifts must never take precedence over the gift of “Love.” Examining the way of love, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-2). The word “nothing” means exactly nothing. How are you viewed in the sight of God? Are you “Excellent” or “Nothing?”
The passage of scriptures, 1 Corinthians 13:3-8, gives “US” all a clear meaning of what “Love” represents and what it does not represent. To sum it all up, love is not partial, love does not seek to control, love does not behave unruly, love can never hate or despise one another, love does not bind its brothers or sisters in oppression, love does not seek self-gratification, and love is not easily provoked. What spirit are you producing? Is it a Cain spirit, who was wicked and slew his brother because he was righteous or the “Spirit of Jesus” who gave his life in death on the cross for everyone to have a chance of eternal life in “Love.” “For God, sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (St John 3:17). Jesus is the “Restoration of Eternal Life” for all people who believe in Him. We must take note, Jesus never forced Himself, the message of salvation, and His beliefs in the Father and the Word of God on anyone. Those who did not receive Him, He moved forward, forgave them, and did not succumb to their beliefs. But, He walked in the authority and excellency predestined by the Father to accomplish His mission on earth through “Love” and death on the cross.
My “Brothers and Sisters,” 1 Corinthians 13:13, concludes with, “And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” You cannot have “true faith” and not love Jesus first. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 3:20). We are justified by faith through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1), directing the people back to Jesus love for us. You cannot have “true hope” and not love Jesus first. “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5), directing the people back to Jesus love for us. Therefore, faith and hope is concluded, to be inadequate without love---the greatest gift.
In closing, God has appointed to each of us a sphere of authority to further the gospel of Jesus Christ to advance the Kingdom of God. To reach into enlarged regions spreading the gospel of Jesus, extending the loving-arms of the Kingdom of God. We as the “True Believers” must in humility and love, reach souls for the Kingdom of God. And continue to glorify the LORD and not ourselves. For it is the LORD who commends and approves (2 Corinthians 10:13-18). This is the seal and sanctioning of the work of the ministry of Jesus Christ for the “True Believers” to do greater works. We are all called to be a witness and evangelize to advance the Kingdom of God through “Love.” Yes, this means even a child can lead a person to Jesus with a willing “heart of love.” Let “US” strive for the more “Excellent-Greatest” gift “Love.” Let “US” go back to the foundational principal, “Love.” Let “US” love one another, not despise or hate, in the fellowship of Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Father God, we acknowledge you this day. We ask for forgiveness of not desiring and striving for the more excellent and greatest gift, love. We rend our hearts and not our garments, to be restored and to be builded up in the most holy faith of Jesus Christ. Restore the gift of love in us to advance the Kingdom of God. In the name of the Father, Son—Jesus Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Be Blessed,
Lady Cynthia R. Kelly
God’s Humble Servant
Evangelist – International Author