What is Love?

If I had the gift of speaking in foreign languages without learning them, and even if I could speak every heavenly language, but did not love others, I would only be making noise.

If I had the gift of prophecy and knew the future, but did not love others, what good would it do?

Even if I had the gift of faith and could move mountains, I still would be worth nothing without love.

If I gave all my worldly possessions to the poor, and even if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel, but did not have love, it would be of no value.

Love* is patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty, selfish or rude.

Love does not demand it's own way. Love is not irritable or grouchy. Love does not hold grudges, and will not keep score against friend or enemy.

Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. Love is loyal, and has faith in God under all circumstances.

Someday prophecy, foreign languages and special knowledge will disappear, but Love goes on forever.

Now we know so little even with our special gifts, but when Jesus comes and we have been made perfect and complete at His coming, then those special gifts will come to an end, for they are no longer needed.

It is like this: when I was a child, I spoke and thought as a child. But when I reached adulthood my thoughts were far above childish ways.

 In the same way, we can see and understand only a little about God now, as if we were looking at His reflection in a poor mirror. But someday we are going to see Him as He is, face to Face! What I see now is blurry, but later I will see everything as clearly as God sees now!

There are three great things: FAITH - HOPE - LOVE. And the greatest is LOVE!

*God is Love. In this paragraph substitute your name wherever the word "Love" appears.

Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.

The Elevator

Jeremy, an eight year old friend of ours, came to visit for a weekend. He is fond of fossils so we took him to the University museum to see their collection.

Jeremy had never been to a museum before and was very excited and kept us on the go for about two hours. When it was time to go up to the second level Debra suggested we take the freight elevator as her bad leg was aching. Jeremy seemed frightened by the elevator, let alone ride on it.

He asked, "Don't you know what this is, Debbie?" She assured him she knew what an elevator was. "Don't you know what kind of an elevator it is, Debbie?" "Yes, Jeremy, it is an Otis elevator. Now please get on," Debra replied.

Jeremy entered cautiously. The elevator slowly ascended. Unexpectedly its rear door opened and closed. Jeremy squealed and began bouncing around.

"Jeremy! Do you have to go to the bathroom?," Debra exclaimed.

"No!," he cried, obviously frightened by the elevator. "But when is it going to happen?"

"When is what going to happen, Jeremy?," Debra answered.

"You know, it!," he screamed.

"Jeremy," Debra said trying to remain calm, "I don't know what you are talking about. The main door will open any moment."

When we reached the second level the main door opened and Jeremy rushed out, skidded on the freshly waxed floor, and fell down panting.

"Jeremy!," she called, obviously concerned for his physical and mental state of being. "What is wrong?"

"Debbie! Don't you know? Can't you read the signs? It says fright elevator!"

Muffling her laughter she explained, "Jeremy, the sign says freight elevator."

"Oh," he replied, "let's go see some more fossils."

Gospel or Gossip

If Christians would spread the Gospel instead of spreading gossip - Jesus would come and we would be in Heaven!

Happiness & Safety

Your only safety and happiness are in making Christ your constant counselor. You can be happy in (Jesus) if you had not another friend in the wide world. Your feelings of unrest and homesickness or loneliness may be for your good. Your heavenly Father means to teach you to find in Him the friendship and love and consolation that will satisfy your most earnest hopes and desires.

…Do not be overanxious about anything. Go quietly about your duty which the day brings you. Do the best you can, ask God to be your helper.

 Our High Calling, p 64, E G White