DRAWING NEAR
August 5
Languages Without Love
"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not
have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal" (1
Cor. 13:1).
Love distinguishes true communication from useless chatter and
meaningless noises.
Paul begins his discourse on love by stating the futility of
languages without love. The Corinthians were enamored with the showy
spiritual gifts, apparently to the neglect of those they deemed less
spectacular (see 1 Cor. 12:12-31). One of the gifts they prized most
highly was tongues, which was the Spirit-given ability to declare
God's truth in a language unknown to the speaker but known to others
who heard.
Tongues were a sign to provoke unbelieving Jewish people to consider
the gospel (1 Cor. 14:21-22). Its first occurrence was on the Day of
Pentecost when the Spirit enabled those assembled in the upper room
to proclaim the mighty deeds of God in the native languages of the
Jews gathered in Jerusalem at the time (Acts 2:4-11).
The "tongues of angels" Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 13:1 isn't the
gift of tongues, as some suppose. He was simply using an exaggeration
to emphasize his point, saying in effect, "If I had the ability to
communicate with angels, it wouldn't do any good without love."
In Paul's day, the worship of Cybele and Dionysus, two pagan gods,
incorporated speaking in ecstatic languages accompanied by blaring
trumpets, smashing gongs, and clanging cymbals. I believe Paul was
drawing from that well-known practice to say that whenever Christians
attempt to minister apart from the Spirit and His love, it's no
different than a pagan rite. It may look and sound like the real
thing, but it's meaningless and useless for any spiritual benefit.
You should take advantage of every opportunity to minister your
spiritual gifts to others. But as you do, be sure it's with love, in
the energy of the Spirit, and in accordance with God's Word. Then
you'll have a maximum impact as Christ uses your efforts for His
glory.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Ask God to convict you whenever you attempt to exercise your
spiritual gifts without love.
For Further Study:
Read Romans 12:3-21.
What does Paul say about spiritual gifts? How are Christians to
express brotherly love to one another?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members
of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether
Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and have all been made to
drink into one Spirit.
14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the
body," is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of
the body," is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the
whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body
just as He pleased.
19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor
again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be
weaker are necessary.
23 And those members of the body which we think to be less
honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable
parts have greater modesty,
24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the
body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,
25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members
should have the same care for one another.
26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if
one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second
prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of
healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all
workers of miracles?
30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all
interpret?
31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more
excellent way.
1 Corinthians 14:21-22
21 In the law it is written: "With men of other tongues and other
lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will
not hear Me," says the Lord.
22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to
unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who
believe.
Acts 2:4-11
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak
with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every
nation under heaven.
6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and
were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another,
"Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?
8 "And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we
were born?
9 "Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia,
Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 "Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining
Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 "Cretans and Arabs; we hear them speaking in our own tongues the
wonderful works of God."
Romans 12:3-21
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among
you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but
to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do
not have the same function,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually
members of one another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given
to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to
our faith;
7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in
teaching;
8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he
who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what
is good.
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in
honor giving preference to one another;
11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly
in prayer;
13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on
high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your
own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the
sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with
all men.
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to
wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the
Lord.
20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty,
give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his
head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
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In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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