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.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
For Reflection:
One of the most recognizable scriptures in the Bible. This passage is quoted often; many of us could probably spout off at least part of it from memory. Careful not to confuse recognition with fully knowing, I take a fresh look at this passage today and ask God to reveal new treasures for me in it. (paragraph break) How much of what I do in life is just noise? Whether what I am doing is good, bad or indifferent this scripture says if I am not acting in love it is nothing but noise. I pause and consider not only my recent actions, but my motivations. Am I doing good deeds searching for accolades or to be kind to others? Am I working hard at my job for the self-recognition or with a heart of service? Am I saying the right words but through gritted teeth and a cynical heart or with a heart of patient hope?
God, reveal your love in my life, and where you might be inviting me to move towards more of it. Your love that is patient and kind, that rejoices, believes, hopes, endures, never fails.
This scripture tells us that we only know God’s love in part in this world and it makes me wonder just how much of God’s love I actually recognize. Do I recognize him like a person I have met one time? Like the person (or scripture) I have passed one hundred times because we cross paths in our daily routine but I still don’t know at all? Like a friend who I invest time in and live life with? Like family member who lives in my house and gets to see my good, bad, and ugly?
I imagine all of the faith, hope and love that my mind can fathom, and am overwhelmed knowing that I am only recognizing in part – God’s love is even bigger. I yearn to see and absorb and reflect as much of God’s love as I can in this world. And as if the mere existence of this kind of love is not enough, this passage leaves us with yet another gem: “even as I am fully known.” God not only vaguely recognizes me, but knows me fully. Even in all of my imperfect reflections of his love, even in my inability to fully recognize him, he fully knows me - all of my actions and motivations, all of my good, bad and ugly - and he invites me into his presence through his love. I long to be be wrapped up in this love, to abide in it always.
Let us pray:
God, thank you that your word always has new ways to reveal your love to me every time I turn to it. Please grow my patience, kindness, trust, hope, and faithfulness. Help them to shrink any boastfulness, arrogance, self-seeking and anger within me. Keep me abiding in your love so that it can’t help but flow out into my motivations and actions. Help me to recognize places where I am acting in your love, and places where my motivations are coming from another place. Turn my whole being to focus on your love. Lead me into an ever deepening recognition of you and your love. Help me to recognize as much of you as is humanly possible in this world around me. Help me to be a vessel of your love that others may recognize your face through me. Thank you that I am fully known to you and that you pursue me and love me.
Where do I recognize God in my life? In scripture, an encouraging word, an answered prayer, a belly laugh, a sunrise, a song, somewhere else?
I wonder where I will get to recognize God's love today...
What is my reaction to being fully known by God?