YOU KNOW THE SOUND THAT CRASH CYMBOLS MAKE?
THERE'S NO VOLUME WITH THIS PICTURE, SO MAKE YOUR OWN, REAL LOUD...
...AGAIN! REAL LOUD! DO IT AGAIN! LOUDER!
GETS SORT OF ANNOYING DOESN'T IT!
picture courtesy googleimages.com & jenkschamber.com
1If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. 3If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever. 4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. 6It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
WHAT DOES PAUL'S ILLUSTRATION OF CLANGING CYMBALS HAVE TO DO WITH REAL LOVE?
A little historical background of the culture in Paul's day will help us understand the answer. Corinth was the location of the early church to which Paul was writing this letter. In that city, in the first century, there was a big gong or cymbal hanging at the entrance of most pagan temples. When pagan worshippers came, they would clang the cymbals to "wake up" their pagan gods so they would listen to their prayers.
So, Paul is teaching that if we don't love others with Godly love (unconditional), everything else we have and do (even if it is really good and spiritual) makes us nothing. Without real love, the stuff we do is as useless as the ridiculous act of gonging a piece of metal to wake up a god that does not exist!
Our culture confuses real love and selfish lust. Godly love is clear. It is directed toward others without being self-centered.
Let your love for others be a beautiful sound. Let it be a symbol of God's love.
- Save the little picture of the animated cymbal crasher as a reminder to keep God's love a priority in your life.
- Read today's passage again. In verses 4-7, how many practical ways to express love do you find? Review it every week for the next month. Write down the names of five people in your life to receive at least one of these expressions of love in 1st Corinthians 13:4-7.
- If you're a student in a band, go crash the cymbals and use it as a conversation starter with a friend.
- Share today's Daily Devos with a friend.
Daily Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG. Its purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.
Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.