There are faith communities today that place great emphasis on the value of speaking in tongues as an authentic indication that God is present among and with God’s people. There’s also significant weight given to one who is called to prophesy in the church. While speaking in tongues may well be a holy conversation between a person and God and prophesying may be a gift of grace to uplift and encourage the people, we are often disconnected from the temporary nature of their existence. And there are some indications that they each have their appropriate place and time. But their time and place are both short lived. And the danger comes in believing that either of these two gifts are more important than the unconditional love that impacts people’s lives eternally when they are loved beyond their hurt, loved beyond their disappointment, loved beyond their guilt, or loved beyond their ability to understand why they are loved. Not everyone has the ability to interpret someone speaking in tongues. And it appears the prophesying is a community effort of support and agreement between those who are present and convict a believer of the reality of God (1 Cor. 14:24-25). But all can understand unconditional love, not by words alone, but by actions. All can understand the reality of God, not by words alone, but by the actions of unconditional love. So, God’s unconditional love is really the more excellent way of enabling others to see God, experience God, and to know God.
• What particular value does speaking in tongues or prophesying have compared to loving someone unconditionally?
• Why would you say that loving someone is more excellent than speaking in tongues or prophesying?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Gracious God, help me to keep in perspective the greater value of loving someone unconditionally and the ability to speak to You personally as true expressions of who You are.

There aren’t many of us who wouldn’t desire to have more faith. Now, I’m talking about the kind of faith that does — in fact — move mountains. I’m almost certain that when Jesus talked about faith that moves mountains, he was speaking metaphorically. He was perhaps talking about those mountains that occasionally show up in our lives that we’d like to see moved, or perhaps those small obstacles in our lives that appear as big as mountains but could easily be taken down by faith. If we could do that, I’m almost certain that our egos would be swelling to unimaginable proportions. It reminds me of a story I once heard about pride.

A newly elected politician was visiting Washington, D.C., to get acquainted. He was visiting In the home of one of the ranking Senators who was trying to interpret the wonder of the Capitol. As they stood looking out over the Potomac River, an old deteriorating log floated by In view on the river. The old-timer said, “This city is like that log out there.” The fledgling politician asked, “How’s that?” The senator answered, “Well, there are probably more than one hundred thousand grubs, ants, bugs, and critters on that old log floating down the river. And I imagine every one of them thinks that he’s steering it.”

It’s amazing how pride can inflate one’s ego to the point of believing that faith in what we do makes things are possible. And while faith in and of itself is important, the power of our faith is so temporary. It will last only until it’s not necessary and we stand in the presence of our Christ, and — as the song says, “Our faith shall be sight … .” It’s a good thing to rely on faith while avoiding letting our faith accomplishments go to our heads. That kind of humble faith will always be a part of our relationship with God. But it’s better to rely on the more excellent way of God’s eternal love which never fades or dies, even in the presence of the God in whom we have placed our faith.

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Merciful God, grant that my faith, in whatever amount I have, will always be motivated by the eternal more excellent power of Your love to change the world.

Writer T. S. Eliot in his play, “Murder in the Cathedral” wrote a line of great human perspective and truth. He wrote in his play: "The last temptation is the greatest treason: to do the right deed for the wrong reason". Over the years, we’ve all come to appreciate being acknowledged or rewarded for those noble things we do, especially when those actions are morally good and faithful acts. And if we’re honest — if we’re honest — patting oneself on the back may be more normal than we might think. It gives us a certain sense of pride knowing that we’ve done a good thing. However, sometimes our motivation for doing those “right deeds” are misguided, especially when we do them solely for impure, or selfish motives, or the wrong reasons That’s when the greatest treason enters in. It’s because in our acknowledgement of what we’ve done, we allow our ego to become the motivation by which our good deeds are carried out. When we honor ourselves for what we do for no other reason than to get respect, admiration, power, or to build a good reputation, then our motivations reek of selfishness. And adding to that, all the glory we receive for our selfishness is so temporary. The glory only last until the motivations for doing them has disappeared and then it’s on to the next deed to get acclaim.
But God has given us a book that provides a more excellent motivation for doing any and everything that we do. God’s wisdom has proved that doing thing because of unconditional love as a motivator has the power to transform pride and ego into humility, selfishness into self-sacrifice, and human motivations into spiritual incentives. There is nothing about unconditional love that is temporary, because God isn’t temporary. Love is as eternal as God because God is love. And if our motivations are Godly, there can be no other way as excellent as that which imitates God.
• What motivates you to use God’s gifts to perform acts of charity with unconditional love?
• How does serving others from a perspective of unconditional love change your expectations?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Gracious and loving God, transform me from doing good deeds solely to serve my ego and selfish ambitions and guide me in everything I do by the more excellent way of unconditional love for all people.