And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2
There is great power in the virtue of love. It is a characteristic of a Christian. The apostle Paul knew how important it was to exemplify true love toward others. He also knew that without love he was nothing.
In the previous chapter, Paul discusses spiritual gifts that are given to Believers by the Holy Spirit. In this verse he mentions three of them. Prophecy refers to the ability to declare God’s Word with power. Knowledge involves the deep understanding of God’s Word. Faith is the ability to trust God for great and mighty things. These three gifts are given by the Holy Spirit but without possessing love a person is “nothing.”
You can be intelligent, wealthy, and talented but if you don’t love you have nothing and are nothing. You could be a great doctor or lawyer or even a superb teacher, yet if you lack love, you are nothing.
God considers love to be one of the main characteristics that a Christian can possess. Jesus set forth the best example of love. He continually showed compassion to everyone He encountered.
This is the kind of love that we are to show everyone around us. We are to study God’s Word and to be wise but we are to show love as well. Love makes us be the person who displays the light of Jesus and shows the world who Jesus is. Do you have love?
Pray
Lord, help me to express love to everyone I encounter today. Teach me to love everyone, even my enemies. Let my love be an example of who You are.
