OCTOBER 27, 2015
You Missed the
Chance
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. — 1 Corinthians 13:2
Read:
1
Corinthians 13
I heard the saddest
words today. Two believers in Christ were discussing an issue about which they
had differing opinions. The older of the two seemed smug as he wielded
scripture like a weapon, chopping away at the things he saw as wrong in the
other’s life. The younger man just seemed weary of the lecture, weary of the
other person, and discouraged.
As the exchange drew
to a close, the older man commented on the other’s apparent disinterest. “You
used to be eager,” he started, and then abruptly quit. “I don’t know what it is
you want.”
“You missed the chance to love me,” the young
man said. “In all the time you’ve known me, what has seemed to matter most to
you is pointing out what you think is wrong about me. What do I want? I want to
see Jesus—in you and through you.”
Had this been said to
me, I thought, I would have been devastated. In that moment I knew the Holy
Spirit was telling me there had been people I had missed the chance to love.
And I knew there were people who couldn’t see Jesus in me either.
The apostle Paul tells
us that love must be the underlying motive in anything we do; in everything we
do (1 Cor. 13:1-4). Let’s not miss the next chance to show love.
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you today who it
is you’ve missed the chance to love. Then ask Him to give you another
opportunity. Start your conversation with these words: “I’m sorry . . .”
Love beats lectures every time.
INSIGHT:
First Corinthians 13 is often referred to as
“the love chapter.” Jesus said that love would be the distinguishing
characteristic of a Christian. Hours before He went to the cross He said: “A
new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love
one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love
one another” (John 13:34-35). Sim Kay Tee
Source: Our Daily Bread 2015
