If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

1 Corinthians 13:1 CSB

We were blessed to be at a wedding celebration yesterday and those wonderful verses about love a little further on in this chapter were shared.

This first part though sets the scene:

Don't be fooled by eloquent words. We can hear all the right words delivered in the most powerful way, if we're in church today we might hear the most engaging music, the best songs, but if there's no love, no real love, then it's just a sound that jars, a sound that's off, out of place.

It's fake. 

Paul here seems to be looking inward too. 

If I speak without love, I'm just a jarring noise.

We don't have to have the best words to love one another, just be open to see the person in front of us as an image bearer of our God, to see them in their humanity, their capacity, their worth, knowing that the image of God in me is not perfect, the humanity and capacity I have is limited, and that my worth is not contingent on my achievement, my eloquent words either. 

"Lord, help me to see the person in front of me at home, in the street, at church today, as you do, to love as you do, to not be concerned about the way I speak or what's on the outside, but let our hearts meet today. 

Amen" 

#dangerousprayers

#love

#itsaheartthing

#inthistogether

#sunday

#worship