OPEN HEAVENS Devotional –
Saturday February 27th 2016
TOPIC: LOVE, THE FULFILLMENT
OF THE LAW I
Read: 1st Corinthians
13:1-3,
1 Though I
speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become
as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 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
charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I
bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,
and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Bible in one year: John
1:1-3:15, Job 29:21-30:8
MESSAGE
The Bible takes the subject of
love so seriously that love is equated to the sum total of all the commandments
of God. The Bible goes further to say that love is the fulfilment of the law.
The use of the word ‘law’ in the New Testament sense, is usually a reference to
all the commandments and statutes recorded in the Old Testament and
specifically those in the first five books of the Bible known as the books of
Moses (Pentateuch). Now, the reality that God equates love to the whole of the
Old Testament commandments is a serious food for thought.
The Bible in 1st Corinthians
13:1-2 says
“Though I speak with the
tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, 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 charity, I am nothing.”
The above passage speaks
clearly about the importance of love and how children of God should view or
rate love on the scale of spirituality. Here, God compared some special
spiritual gifts of uncommon value to love. Speaking in the tongues of men and
angels seems to mean the ability to speak in heavenly tongues and at the same
time interpret it in the language of men. This has always been a very rare gift
which is highly sought after in the body of Christ, yet, anyone with this rare
gift but without love, is described as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.
In essence, such is viewed by God as a mere noise-maker. Furthermore, the Bible
says if one should have the gift of prophecy, understand all mysteries and have
all knowledge, even if the person should have enough faith to do great
miracles, without love, such a person amounts to nothing in the eyes of God.
This simply means that love is the golden rule by which whatever gifts we
exhibit and whatever services we offer to God are measured. Therefore, love is
the ultimate commandment. Romans 13:10 says:
“Love worketh no ill to his
neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
As I always ask my children,
do you truly love God? What price have you paid as proof of that love? If you
love what you do, it will be easy to do it with all your heart. Love is missing
in our fellowship with God today. All you get from some is lip service. This is
professing love without backing it up with physical evidence. Colossians 3:23
says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men”.
Your service to God must come from your heart, borne out of love. The service
that pleases God is one from the heart rendered in love, as God is love. If you
are born again, you have the capacity to manifest agape love. To what extent
does this love manifest itself in your life and service? Do you know that faith
requires the oil of love to operate effectively? (Galatians 5:6). Add love to
your faith and you begin to bask in the glory of God, because He will equally
respond out of greater love and your life will never be the same again.
Prayer Point
Father, help me to love You
with all my heart in Jesus’ name.
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