The Proof of Your Love | Part 1
Song Devotional #1
1. Corinthians 13:1-3
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.
What do we learn from this? All our efforts are in vain, if love isn’t the power driving us. The band “for KING & COUNTRY” have based one of their songs on this passage of the bible.
If I sing but don't have love I waste my breath with every song I bring an empty voice, a hollow noise
If you are an active worshipper in the sense of doing music that is supposed to praise God, be it in a band or just for yourself, you have probably encountered the same struggle that I am in from time to time. Sometimes, I really really want to give glory to God, but I find myself thinking about how nice my voice sounds or how neat that chord that I just played was. I lose myself in technical details: “Should I play this song in D minor or is that too low to be able to sing to it? Should I sing a second voice and what interval should it be from the main voice?”
It’s horrible but completely human: Most of the times, actually, we make things about ourselves and we come to a point where we hate ourselves for it, but our Father is forgiving and he sees us in the struggle. Whenever you find yourself thinking about something other than God or the things you want to bring to him while doing worship, remind yourself to be driven by Love. If your love for the music or the enjoyment of playing an instrument is what makes you worship, you run into danger that you cannot properly praise the Lord.
If the love you want to express to God is what makes you worship, you won’t go wrong.
If I speak with a silver tongue Convince a crowd but don't have love I leave a bitter taste with every word I say
Pastors have one of the toughest jobs in a spiritual sense, at least that’s what I think. Even when in doubt, they have to deliver a message. They can’t cancel a service and just be like: “Oh sorry, I’m busy contemplating whether or not I believe God is with me” - No! Even when they go through a hard time and feel far away from God, they have to preach as they do every other sunday.
I feel the same when I am supposed to be teaching a topic at my youth group at times when God remains silent and I am feeling lost. I can have the nicest metaphors packed into my devotional, even if the kids absolutely get my message, I feel like I am lying to them. It is just not the same, it’s uncomparable to the times when my heart overflows of his love and I can talk out of my enthusiasm for God - that’s what comes to my mind when I think about the bitter taste that is mentioned in the song.
So let my life be the proof, The proof of your love
The love that God has for us is radical and lifechanging. When we dive into it and let Him fill our hearts with his spirit, we actually radiate love automatically. Our life becomes visible evidence for the work he’s doing in us and in our hearts. If you’re feeling empty, pray to God and ask him to fill you up again with His overwhelming love in order to be able to love more yourself.
Let my love look like You and what You're made of How You lived, how You died Love is sacrifice
God himself is love(1. John 4:8), therefore he is also made of love. If my love is supposed to look like God (=Love) and what he is made of (=Love), it is actually an overflow of love, almost a “love-overload”.
How He lived a life full of healing, miracles, trust and love and how He died to express an unprecedent love should inspire us to do the same. Love is sacrifice - Of course, you can love someone with a love that doesn’t cost a thing. You can smile to a stranger, that doesn’t cost you time or money or energy. It is probably the simplest thing on earth and comes naturally most of the times anyways. But the love God has shown us is sacrificial. It takes all from you. When we love other people, we are supposed to sacrifice something - it doesn’t have to be your life but it can be time, energy or something you give up. Loving means letting go of something that is dear and precious to you in order to do good for someone else. This is very challenging as we are egoistic by nature, but loving in a sacrificial way can set you free and be a blessing for yourself in so many ways.
Action Step: In what situations have you already loved sacrificially and in what other situations are you not ready to do so? What are the reasons for that and how could you change that? Think of an act of love that you could carry out this week.
Give one of your favorite books to a person you love. Buy some food for a beggar. Even if you’re busy, take an hour and spend it with someone and strengthen your relationship.
