The Great Motivator

As I recall, a summer trip to swim then a stop for snacks was a great motivator for little boys. Gee, that even motivates the older me! God says, "If I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:2). Nothing - of no consequence, no significance, absence of anything ... zero, nil, zilch ... nothing. Oh, how we can puff-up ourselves into a state of notoriety! Paul writes of "prophecy," one of the greatest spiritual gifts because it delivers God's message to people; then, "knowledge" - that gift of understanding, wisdom and discernment; finally, the gift of "faith, which encompasses the most genuine of faith that manifests itself in abilities beyond man's own strength. All these wonderful God-given gifts which bring glory to The Father and benefit His eternal kingdom - the sum of them nothing ... apart from love. It was Love that Father, Son and Holy Spirit agreed and committed to man's Great Redemption: "“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16), Yes, God so loved  - He so loved He showed mercy, grace, friendship ... motivated by love. So must love be what moves us to reach-out, to serve, to care for-and-about one another. Never forget love ... the great motivator.