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1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (Common English Bible)
If I speak in tongues of human beings and of angels but I don’t have love, I’m a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and I know all the mysteries and everything else, and if I have such complete faith that I can move mountains but I don’t have love, I’m nothing. 3 If I give away everything that I have and hand over my own body to feel good about what I’ve done but I don’t have love, I receive no benefit whatsoever.
4 Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, 5 it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, 6 it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. 7 Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. As for prophecies, they will be brought to an end. As for tongues, they will stop. As for knowledge, it will be brought to an end. 9 We know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, what is partial will be brought to an end. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, reason like a child, think like a child. But now that I have become a man, I’ve put an end to childish things. 12 Now we see a reflection in a mirror; then we will see face-to-face. Now I know partially, but then I will know completely in the same way that I have been completely known. 13 Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love.
Summary:
Throughout February and Black History Month, our theme, Power to the People, will explore how the power of God’s love moves us from bondage to freedom.
The great black American writer James Baldwin wrote in The Fire Next Time, “Love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.” It is hard to tap into the freeing power of love when we don’t know what love is. 1 Corinthians 13 helps us to uncover the power of God’s love guide us on a journey toward freedom!
Reflection Questions:
- What is love? What is God’s love? Is there a difference?
- How do you show love for yourself?
- How do you show your love for your community?
- How do you show love for God?