God is a gift giver. But he does not give us gifts for ourselves, but for serving Christ in the world. Each of us is part of Christ, therefore we are part of the body of Christ which is often called the Church. If you have accepted Christ as savior and enjoy his love, you are part of the Body of Christ.
God has appointed those who have received His gifts to each one share his or her gift with the rest of God's people. There are many gifts according to 1 Cor. 12:28: apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healers, helpers, administrators, some also who may speak in tongues, an unknown language, and some who interpret those whose speech is unknown. But, God stresses in Paul's letter to Corinth that no gift is greater than another, and those who do not use their gifts with love, gain nothing--nothing for themselves, nothing for the church and nothing for Christ.
Study/ "God's kind of love is directed toward others, not inward toward ourselves and what it does for us, our feelings and our pride. God's love is utterly unselfish and goes against our natural inclinations. It is possible to practice this love only if God helps us set aside our own desires and instincts, so that we can give love while expecting nothing in return. Thus, the more we become like Christ, the more of God's love we will show to others. Love is the greatest of human qualities and is an attribute of God Himself. (End Study notes)
Love is something worth praying for and that prayer must never cease. We are being attacked in this world with unloving situations and it would be... Oh, so easy....to retaliate with un-love,, which is a natural instinct for most of us. These days some people are passing along loving gestures--helping to pay for groceries for someone stuck in the line without her billfold, or paying for a coffee for the next in line. Or for a toll for the next car coming through. Love makes small entrances into lives every now and then. Even if we pay it forward for some nice gesture, it is only a beginning to love. Love is not making rash decisions about people because of their color or because of where they live. Love is turning the other cheek when someone is rude or hurtful, and so saying nothing, or saying "God bless you, " instead. Love is even forgiving your husband if he forgets an anniversary! (That one's for me!) Love can be anywhere and everywhere if we each made a real Godly effort!
I hope you will, and I hope you will pray for me that I don't forget to love someone who seems rather unlovable to me. It ain't gonna be easy, but we can do it!!!
Loving you all to pieces,
Jo INMN
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