Nougat 5

Now today’s Holy Nougat offers us a caveat that actually begins to consolidate the teaching on God’s Spirit

“So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all. If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 12:31 – 13:1 NLT

We might recall the emphasis placed on assuring the fellowship that the gifts of God’s Spirit are intended for edification and strength for all. He also went to great pains to emphasize the equal importance of spiritual gifts. For me, this is not only information that I ought to process; but a valuable insight on local church life. Thus it seems that various divisions across class and status impacted the practice of faith in multiple ways.

An invitation to consider the best way of life, that of Love, speaks volumes. We may conclude that Love wasn’t necessarily given first priority in Corinth. This does not give us permission to do similarly. Rather, we are called to note that we are known by our fruit – of which the very first mineral is Love.

This nougat then connects the manifested gifts with the inherent presence. For Love is the undeniable proof of God With Us. Some will find that Love is simple; Others can do public Love (you know the public demonstrations of charity, or of kindness and gentleness when others can see us); and yet Several of us struggle with loving God, neighbor and/or ourselves.

Although I’m working on Love, I’m very conscious that Love is, was and always will be my raison d’être (reason for being). It is at the core of human existence. Not only because God IS Love; but more so because being God, Love was before Creation. I would even suggest that part of our DNA includes God’s Love. For it is God’s Love that extended itself to create the cosmos with all the perfect conditions for our existence; before adding us to the equation. (Just think, the common image we carry of outer space is of zero gravity and thin air. We can’t naturally exist there!). It is Love that forgave the egregious (that is- most unpardonable) sin of disobedience in the Garden of Eden. It is Love that covered the sin and nakedness with shed blood and the assurance of the Messiah (Genesis 1-3). Even through Death (natural and spiritual), God’s Love prevails.

As we move towards once again celebrating the fact of Christ’s birth and the dawning of a new year, may God’s Love be that which we most seek to share.

—

May all we seek be found in Christ