It’s all about love.

Seems like a simple philosophy and really, it is.  But living by it is another story.  Processing everything we do, say, think, and plan through a filter of love may seem impossible – especially if you’ve tried before.  I mean, how can a person really do all things out of a loving heart?

Why does it even matter?

“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. 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. 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.”  1 Cor 13: 1-3

It matters so much because without love – nothing else does.

Our worship doesn’t matter. Words of prophecy or a deep understanding of God’s word doesn’t matter.  Intense, rock-solid faith doesn’t matter.  Selfless deeds do not matter.  Nothing matters without love.  And if none of these great things matter without including real, Christlike love, I believe it’s worth taking a look at.

Do I really love everyone?

The person who uses me for their gain?  The one who talks about me behind my back?  The one who I know hates me?  These are the hard ones to love but they are also the ones that Jesus said we are supposed to love.

“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!” Luke 6:32

Let’s look together at our life today and be sure that we are not doing all of the right things but leaving out the key ingredient.  That ingredient is love and it is what activates everything else – our worship, our understanding, and our giving.  When we do things out of a loving heart, we honor God, and He reciprocates our love hundreds of times over!

From an old DC Talk track, we have to remember that…

Love is a verb.

Thank to marc falardeau for today’s photo!