What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? If I did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. What if I could prophesy and understand all secrets and all knowledge? And what if I had faith that moved mountains? I would be nothing, unless I loved others. What if I gave away all that I owned and let myself be burned alive? I would gain nothing, unless I loved others. 1 Corinthians 13 | Worship without Love... ...is just NOISE. God once said to His people... “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me... Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. from Amos 5 |
Not exactly a worship Blog. But I stumbled across the following You Tube video while preparing for Sunday,... and it's really bothering me. I can't help but wonder how many people never experience God's love because they never feel love from God's people. Every Sunday, I leave our worship service with a deep, almost desperate hope that everyone, or at lease someone, walked away feeling a real connection with God. I'm afraid that sometimes, our broken relationships are a roadblock to experiencing God's love in worship. Please take a couple minutes to watch and listen...
No matter how different or divided we are, I trust the spiritual principle that if two or more people are moving closer to God, they cannot avoid the reality that they will automatically get closer to each other. Sadly, the opposite is also true... further from each other = further from God.
"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. "
1 John 4:20-21
In other words, I only embarrass myself by talking about how much I love God if I can't get along with people. It will be obvious to everyone that I'm a phoney. If we ever hope to offer God anything valuable in worship - or to receive any blessing or healing from Him in return... then going the extra mile to love and forgive each other is not an option.
For His Glory
and Because He Loves Us,
Dave Swanson
"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. "
1 John 4:20-21
In other words, I only embarrass myself by talking about how much I love God if I can't get along with people. It will be obvious to everyone that I'm a phoney. If we ever hope to offer God anything valuable in worship - or to receive any blessing or healing from Him in return... then going the extra mile to love and forgive each other is not an option.
For His Glory
and Because He Loves Us,
Dave Swanson