Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 1 Corinthians 13

If I choose all the strongest verbs and most descriptive adjectives and write the most compelling blog on the web, but have not love, I am no greater than a tabloid writer or paparazzi photographer.

If I study the Bible every single day and night and tell every person I meet on the street all about the good news of the gospel, but have not love, I am no greater than the Pharisees and prosperity preachers.

If I homeschool all my kids and feed them organic fruits and vegetables with every meal, but have not love, I am no greater than Elmo or the Jolly Green Giant.

If I teach preschoolers every Sunday morning and women every Wednesday night, but have not love, I gain nothing.

If I volunteer every Tuesday at my local food pantry and march every Friday at the abortion clinic downtown, but have not love, it profits me and my neighbor not one bit.

“Love is patient and kind;

Love does not envy or boast;

It is not arrogant or rude.

It does not insist on its own way;

It is not irritable or resentful;

It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.

As for prophecies, they will pass away;

As for tongues, they will cease;

As for knowledge, it will pass away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

– 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 ESV

Heavenly Father, I love You, Lord, because You loved me first. You made the first move, the move of love. You pursued me while I hated You. Strengthen me to love others like that. Help me to love others as You loved me. Help me to love them while they are yet sinners for that’s how You loved me. You are love. All You do is love. Make me more like You. I am Your child. I want to live and move and have my being in You, that I might live and move and have my being in Love. To the glory and praise of Your Holy Name. Amen.