A Journey of Love, Pt. 1

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing."
~1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NKJV)

February has the distinction of being the month when people from many countries worldwide celebrate Love. On "The Christian Woman Chronicles" page of this website, our Winter Bible Study Blog, is celebrating the topic of Love all month long. Our mission? Falling in Love with Jesus. We were created first and foremost to Love The Lord, and we were Saved to help others Love Him as well. Ironically, when we do the first, the second tends to be an automatic consequence. Even more ironic is that, by helping others (showing them how) to Love Jesus, we end up fulfilling the whole Law which is, "Love The Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." 

But as we will see in our study passages, we can often confuse what we do for others, and how spiritual we appear to others, with how much we Love others...and The Lord. This could not be further from the truth! In this Study we will focus on learning how to relate to God and others, and minister out of our Love for Jesus above all else. We will prayerfully learn to keep the whole purpose of Salvation at the forefront of all we do and say: Love. 

I welcome you to join in on a sweet and simple journey, already in progress, to breaking down into basics, the growing into an authentic and intentional Love relationship with Jesus that will spill over into everything you do, and everyone you meet. Won't you join us over the next few weeks as we grow in our, "Mission: Falling in Love with Jesus!" 

Blessings,
Dawn~
~Pouring my life out in worship, like Costly Oil~

Week One : The Reality of Charity and Gifts without Love – An Oxymoron

In this week's verses above, we are examining the contradicting realities of living a charitable and philanthropic life, a life full of wonderful, visible giftedness, without a heart and life of LOVE. I know a little about this kind of life. I used to be a kind, caring, giving, and extremely gifted "Christian Woman," who was also selfish and self-centered, with no discipline to keep me from being extremely hurtful to many around me. One year God put me in a relationship that taught me what it meant to Love unconditionally, and I began to see all of my relationships differently. As I continue to grow in Love, I am learning what it means not just to Love those I know and am in relationship with, but also those whom HE Loves and calls me to serve...whether good, bad, or ugly. Finally, I am deeply seeking to let Love LEAD ME as I relate to God and humanity. I don't want it to be an after thought or a chore. I want LOVE to be the thing that initiates and binds all of my relationships. That is what this week is all about.

Reflective Questions 

• Why is having charity and spiritual gifts, without having Love such a great oxymoron? 
  
• When reading this week's study verses, what do the spiritual gifts Paul list have in common? 
  
• What effect might any or all of these gifts have on a gifted/charitable person's ego if they did not serve out of Love? 
  
• For what purpose did God give gifts to mankind? Scripture reference? 
  
• How does LOVE make the difference in God's plan for Spiritual Gifts? 
  
• How is it possible to find ourselves using our Spiritual Gifts, while also losing our love for God and others? Example. 
  
• What are some spiritual and practical actions we can take to keep LOVE as a fundamental part of our service to God and humanity?