Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It’s wedding season, so you may have heard these words recently on someone’s special day. The trouble is, we tend to reserve Paul’s wisdom for ceremonial occasions, when we need them most on ordinary Tuesdays when the kids are late, the bills can’t be paid and the toilet is leaking. We treat this revelation like a beautiful poem to be admired in a museum, instead of what it is: practical instructions for #realtalk.
Paul starts out saying, if I speak in the tongues of men or angels, have prophetic wisdom, mountain-moving faith or even all-encompassing generosity, it’s not enough. None of it matters, unless I also speak and live love.
Culture hasn’t changed much in 2,000 years. It’s still everyone’s goal to be interesting, wise, powerful and impressive. That’s more than enough for the world, but Paul says-you can be all those things and still miss the mark. If Jesus matters to you, then your everyday, ordinary #realtalk must be love. (spoiler alert: love is always kind but rarely nice.)
I hope you’ll join me as we lean into Paul’s wisdom.
Peace,
Pastor Kate
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