When my wife's grandfather turned 88, we decided on the spur of
the moment to drive to Vredendal. At three o'clock on a Friday afternoon
we left by car. I was in a hurry, because I didn't want to be on this
road in the dark. However, just before we got to Olifants River the sun
started to go down and we were stuck behind two trucks travelling at
40km per hour. I know I can drive - while I was a student I drove buses
for Inter Cape. I made a calculated plan to pass the truck, did so
successfully and really stepped on the gas. Our car was ready to go like
a real Formula One racing car.
Suddenly a small light appeared in the road and behind it, a traffic cop: "Sir, why did you cross that barrier line? I'll have to fine you!"
I'm not made to deal with situations like these, because I start shivering and my voice can only hit the high notes. Fortunately, I immediately admitted guilt and was allowed to go with a warning. As I drove further, I realised what had actually happened back there. I had started taking chances with my Formula One racing car. And in a way the Lord had forced me to make a pit stop. He pointed out that the way I was driving was not way one should drive, especially not if you wanted to arrive safely at your destination.
When Paul talks about love, he first shows us the way that is not love. A bit like the traffic cop showing me with his little flash light what good driving was not. Therefore, when you do these things you are not acting the way of love. 1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere.
What do you call the way that is not the way of love? The way of hate? The way of your own self? The way of selfishness? The way of destruction?
I'm only saying...
Look, we can do all the beautiful things of Christianity, but if the people we come into contact with do not experience Jesus' love, we are missing the point. Even if we speak in tongues, even if we dream great big heavenly dreams that we can interpret beautifully, even if I pray the lame into walking, but people are suffocated by my lack of love, it's all only the whisper of the wind. It's worth nothing. It's of no use at all.
Paul goes even further: Even if I'm a truly devout person who gives away everything I own, no, even more, even if I'm nailed to a cross laying down my life for the cause, but the people around me do not see my love, it's all useless. Then we're not on the love bus.
Maybe we should start with those closest to us. Maybe we should go and ask our spouse and children, parents, brothers and sisters: Do you feel love when I'm here? Do you see love when I scold or get angry? Do you hear love when I speak and so on?
Let's take Paul - shining his light in the dark like a traffic cop - seriously. Let's allow that light to shine right into us looking for the place where there is no love.
Reflection
What do your words do to other people?
Do your words walk the way of love?
Or do your words leave behind a couple of bodies along the way?
Bible Reading
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Prayer
Father, I know we take life too lightly. We traipse through life stepping all over other people, showing no sign of Your love. Help me, Lord, to not live like that. I want to sow Your love in the world. Help me put the own self aside so that Your love can shine through me. Amen
Suddenly a small light appeared in the road and behind it, a traffic cop: "Sir, why did you cross that barrier line? I'll have to fine you!"
I'm not made to deal with situations like these, because I start shivering and my voice can only hit the high notes. Fortunately, I immediately admitted guilt and was allowed to go with a warning. As I drove further, I realised what had actually happened back there. I had started taking chances with my Formula One racing car. And in a way the Lord had forced me to make a pit stop. He pointed out that the way I was driving was not way one should drive, especially not if you wanted to arrive safely at your destination.
When Paul talks about love, he first shows us the way that is not love. A bit like the traffic cop showing me with his little flash light what good driving was not. Therefore, when you do these things you are not acting the way of love. 1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere.
What do you call the way that is not the way of love? The way of hate? The way of your own self? The way of selfishness? The way of destruction?
I'm only saying...
Look, we can do all the beautiful things of Christianity, but if the people we come into contact with do not experience Jesus' love, we are missing the point. Even if we speak in tongues, even if we dream great big heavenly dreams that we can interpret beautifully, even if I pray the lame into walking, but people are suffocated by my lack of love, it's all only the whisper of the wind. It's worth nothing. It's of no use at all.
Paul goes even further: Even if I'm a truly devout person who gives away everything I own, no, even more, even if I'm nailed to a cross laying down my life for the cause, but the people around me do not see my love, it's all useless. Then we're not on the love bus.
Maybe we should start with those closest to us. Maybe we should go and ask our spouse and children, parents, brothers and sisters: Do you feel love when I'm here? Do you see love when I scold or get angry? Do you hear love when I speak and so on?
Let's take Paul - shining his light in the dark like a traffic cop - seriously. Let's allow that light to shine right into us looking for the place where there is no love.
Reflection
What do your words do to other people?
Do your words walk the way of love?
Or do your words leave behind a couple of bodies along the way?
Bible Reading
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Prayer
Father, I know we take life too lightly. We traipse through life stepping all over other people, showing no sign of Your love. Help me, Lord, to not live like that. I want to sow Your love in the world. Help me put the own self aside so that Your love can shine through me. Amen
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