A Clanging Symbol

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angles, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." 1 Cor. 13:1

Take one tablet three times daily, the doctor might say when prescribing medicine to assist in healing an infection. Such is the advice of a pastor I recently had an opportunity to hear at Promisekeepers 08. Bishop Larry Jackson (http://www.promisekeepers.org/speaker-bios/larry-jackson), the author of "Guilt Free Living," told a crowd of seven thousand including me who struggled with pornography, overwork, neglecting their family, financial difficulties, and many other sins to repent, find an accountability partner to pray with, rid yourself of temptations, and read 1 Cor 13 "The Love Chapter" three times a day.

I have begun to take his prescription. For the next several days and weeks, I will write devotionals relating to the chapter as the Lord begins to work inside me to restore my brokenness and pick up the pieces of my heart damaged by my sinful nature.

1 Cor 13:1 gets to the heart of our walk with God. Our relationship with Him must come from our heart and not only from outward displays such as speaking in tongues. Without true love like that which was demonstrated by Jesus Christ, none of our efforts or even our faith will be satisfying to God. We must learn to love God with everything that we are and we must love our fellow man as we love ourselves. Love is the endpoint of everything with God and once we achieve perfect love we will see clearly what Jesus was like and understand how he wants us to live.

Let's take this adventure together and see what God is going to do in our lives!

My prayer: Lord I am a sinner and a repeat offender, forgive me please. I ask in the name of Jesus that you patiently walk beside me and firmly reveal that which is displeasing to you in my life. Breakdown the walls of sin within me and replace them with love that is genuine, deep and overflowing. Teach me to love like you Daddy, give me a heart that breaks for your people, and use me as a vessel to reach others for Christ. Amen!