“If I speak in tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all my possessions to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” I Corinthians 13:1-8a NIV

There’s nothing like a beautiful sunset to allow me to see the love of God!

In the verses above the Apostle Paul is telling us about his work and how important love is. He says that if he could speak in the tongue of angels, or have the gift of prophecy and knowledge, or have enough faith to move a mountain, but it was done without love, it would be for nothing.

I used to be a teacher, and I would always read these verses in I Corinthians 13 before the school year began because it helped me look at things from God’s perspective. All my knowledge, all my plans, all my work, would gain me nothing if I did not have love. I had to embrace God’s love for me and then express that love to those around me.

How would you change the first part to help you have the best school year? “If I got all A’s and B’s, but do not have love, it is for nothing”. What else could you say? How could you show God’s love for other students in your class or school? The second part of these verses tells us all of the things that love is and is not. This part forces us to examine how we act and how we treat others.

This school year let’s all work hard and do our very best, but let’s also do it by sharing the love of God with all those we meet. Let’s be patient and kind, not envious or boastful or proud. Let’s forgive wrongs and control our anger, honor others and rejoice in truth. Let’s protect, trust, hope and persevere and never fail to share the love of God.

Blessings for the best school year ever!