Verse 2

1 Corinthians 13:2 (NIV)
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 have not love, I am nothing.

Wow. That is some serious super powers–

Prophecy
Wisdom
Knowledge
Faith to move mountains…

But no love.

Sorry. I can’t help to insert my kids here. They like to quote The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Dudes with serious powers, ya gotta recognize. But Paul says, Naw. What matters is love.

Dangit.

I think he is validating not exacerbating my problem–wanna do something spry? Move a mountain? Wanna do something challenging, dangerous, and real? Love.

Love. That’s the good stuff.
Now tell us how, bad boy. Tell us how.

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Verse 1

1 Corinthians 13:1 (NIV)
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

I speak in tongues. I tend to keep it on the D/L because it is a divisive issue and I don’t pray in tongues as often as I should. I know it is prayer. I know it is a way to ask for things from Him and worship Him. Unhappily, the gift of tongues does not make me less of a pain in the arse.

Ah, the language of men and angels! Men can attempt to change the world with their pretty words. Angels are messengers so the words of angels are like the signet ring of power.

But power is only as good as it’s source.

Only echoing gongs and cymbals. Loud. Potentially for calling us to something important. Gongs and cymbals are the ancient equivalent of the search engine–power to draw a crowd, proclaim a grand message.

Paul decries the allure of power and message for this humble subversive–love.

Real love with a true voice.
Listen.

Wound Care for the Broken Believer

I realized this morning I have a problem with reconciling 1 Corinthians 13 with my heart, my messy wounded heart.

So I am going to perform an operation–verse by verse. See if I can’t get some healing here. I need to be healed.