Latest / The Daily Word / March 28 – The Supreme Importance of Love
Transcript
- Robert Rosales: Hey, Lakeshore family. This is Robert Rosales and my wife Yolanda and I have the privilege of serving as the campus pastors at our Gastonia location. Thank you so much for joining us today on the Daily Word podcast. Each day on this podcast, we take a few moments to reflect on what God is highlighting from our daily Bible reading. As a church family, we're intentional about creating space to meet with God through prayer, the Word and by writing down what the Holy Spirit is speaking and how it connects to everyday life. We're reading together using the Life Journal reading plan and today we're focusing on the New Testament passage from that plan. When I sit down for my time with the Lord, I always bring my Bible, my Life Journal, a pen and a highlighter to mark those verses that stand out as God speaks. I also like to use a couple of trusted study tools. Blue Letter Bible to explore original word meanings and cross references and BibleRef.com. It gives me a clear verse by verse understanding. Now, these tools don't replace scripture. They simply help me slow down and listen more carefully. We're also using the SOAP method. observation, application, and prayer. It's a practical way to engage God's Word and respond to what He's doing in our hearts. Now, before we read today's passage, come on, lean in with me, pray with me. Lord, as I open Your Word, open me by the Holy Spirit. Make what is written alive and active in my heart. Give me ears to hear. Give me a heart to receive and give me faith to obey. Speak Lord, I am listening. In Jesus name, amen. Now today's passage is for March 28th and it comes from 1st Corinthians and I journaled on verses 4 and 13. Let me read it to you out of the NIV. is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. And now these three remain. Faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. A couple of other translations say the chiefest or the most important of these is love. Here's the title of my journal entry, The Supreme Importance of Love. Come on, say that with me. The Supreme Importance of Love. Here's my observation starting with the word love. The word love comes from the Greek word agape, A-G-A-P-E, and it means God's unconditional love. Love by choice. and by an act of the will. Unconquerable and undefeatable goodwill. Many call it the God-kind of love. 1 Corinthians is called the Love Chapter and it's Paul's teaching on the supreme importance of love in the Christian's life. The chapter begins by showing that no matter what we can do, speak in tongues, have prophetic insight, understand mysteries, or give generously. If we don't have love, it's all worthless. Love is the measure of true spiritual maturity because without it, all gifts and abilities are empty. Paul goes on to describe what God looks like, excuse me, what love looks like. It is patient, kind, humble. Love does not envy or boast. It's not arrogant or rude. Does not insist on its own way. It's forgiving. enduring and faithful. In other words, love is active, not just a feeling. It shapes the way we treat people, especially when it's hard. Finally, Paul reminds the Corinthians that spiritual gifts like prophecy, knowledge, and even faith are temporary. They will end or fade, but love lasts forever. Love is eternal because it reflects God Himself. He finishes with a powerful statement, faith and hope are important, but the greatest of these is love. Here's the big idea. Spiritual abilities, gifts and knowledge are valuable, but without love they mean nothing. Love is the foundation and goal of the Christian life, and it is what lasts beyond everything else. Here's my application. It's easier to live a life that focuses on me and what I want. This is the opposite. God's love. As a man of God, I will intentionally lean into God's love, God's love in me and God's love through me. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I will be patient, kind and humble. I will yield to God's love to manifest through my life. I will keep in mind that God's love is supreme over gifts and abilities. God's love is eternal. Come on, will you pray with me? Father God, thank you for speaking to me today and reminding me of these powerful truths from your word. Holy Spirit, help me to live this out. Help me to love others through my actions. Help me to remember that God's love is supreme and above all else. Help me to remember He wants me to demonstrate His love to others. I ask these things in Jesus name. Amen. Hey, Lakeshore family. As you go into your day, my prayer is that you'll develop a hunger for God and His Word like you've never had before. As you do, God will open your eyes to the riches of His Word, giving you revelation and life-changing insight that will help you become everything God has called you to be, fulfilling your mission, purpose, and plan for our great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thanks for joining me today on the Daily Word Podcast. I hope this encourages you to stay faithful in the Word and sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading. God bless you and we'll catch you again tomorrow.