If You Have Not Love...

'"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverence. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place' (Revelation2:1-5, Bold and Italics mine)

Why the tough stance? Friends, many of us think that as long as we lead 'holy' lives, we will gain entry into Heaven. And so everyday we spend time with God, we stay away from evil, we go to church and all. This is good. But something is lacking. That is love. Revelation2 reveals to us that we can do a lot of things, but unless we have love, we will not enter the kingdom of Heaven.

1Corinthians13 is the only chapter in the book dedicated to the topic of love. Apostle Paul ended 1Corinthians12 with this: 'But eagerly desire the greater gifts.'(v31) And then he starts chapter 13 like this: 'And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not 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 have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.'(1Corinthians13:1-3, Bold and Italics mine)

The most excellent way of desiring the greater gifts is to have love! Apostle Paul wanted the people of Corinth to know that unless they have love, they will be unable to run the church. They will be unable to use their gifts to serve the church. Friends, in 1Corinthians13 we see that we can do a lot of things to "ensure salvation". We can speak in all kinds of tongues, we can have a lot of gifts and wisdom, we can have a lot of faith, we can do a lot of charity work and even willing to be put under trial for the gospel. But something is lacking. Love, that is. We forget that salvation comes not by our own works, but by grace. (Ephesians2:8-9) Because God loved us first even though we did not deserve it, therefore we must extend the same kind of love to others. Because Christ died for us while we were still sinners, we must extend the same kind of grace to others. For in the same way we judge others, we will be judged, and with the measure we use, it will be measured unto us. (Matthew7:2)

Revelation2 tells us that we can do a lot of things, but unless we have love, we will be refused entry to Heaven. Friends, do you realize the extend of power of love? 'Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.' (1John4:8)
Unless you have love, the fact is this, you are not acknowledged as a heir of the Kingdom. Because God is love.

In this modern dog-eat-dog world, it is getting increasingly difficult to love people. But friends, that's why we're here. As Christians we have been called to be the salt and light of the world. (Matthew5:13-16) We have been called to lead the way. We have been called to be examples in/to the world. And in this world where 'hate' is such a common word, what better way to do this than to love?

One of the most common thing that leads to hatred is anger and bitterness. I know, you would want to correct me because that is two things and not one. But friends, I refer to anger and bitterness as one because they come hand in hand. With anger you have bitterness. And with bitterness you have anger. Anger and bitterness is one of the most destructive thing. Anger and bitterness are dangerous thoughts that can, and most of the time will, lead to destructive actions. Therefore friends, as believers, let us learn not to harbour anger and bitterness, because 'The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.' (Proverbs15:26) 'See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many' (Hebrews12:15, Bold and Italics mine) This verse tells us again, that if we harbour any anger and bitterness, we will miss out on the grace of God. That's right, your anger and bitterness and lack of love is right up there among the other sins such as adultery, murder, hypocrisy etc.

Therefore, friends, let us not harbour any anger and bitter thoughts. Instead let us learn to lift up these thoughts to God. Let us learn to love others, simply becaue our God is all about love.

'Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.' (1Corinthians13:4-7 NKJV, Italics mine)


You hold the future in your hands
You know my dreams and you have a plan
And as you light my way, I'll follow you

My eyes on all of the above
My soul secure in all you've done
My minds made up
And you are the only one for me

Jesus, Savior, in my life you are everything
My future decided, I will praise your name
And I know that I am, I am yours
Yeah, I know that that I am, I am yours

You hold the earth in your command
You are the rock on which I stand
And as I live each day, I'll follow you

Aren't afraid, aren't ashamed Lord we know who we are
We are your people and we won't be silent
Unified hear us cry at the top of our lungs
You our God and we will not be shaken