1 Corinthians 13:1-3 A Clanging Cymbal
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: March 21, 2020 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
(Understanding the Text) Hebrew people of Bible times thought in threes. It is a common pattern in the Bible to emphasize something three times. Here, Paul emphasizes three times that love must be a part of everything we do or say. For him, this was a way of showing that love is essential and important.
To speak in the languages of men is ordinary. To speak in the language of angels is extraordinary. Paul is giving emphasis that we can speak many languages, even those that no one else on earth can speak, and without love in our hearts and in our words, we are just mouthing noise. The content that comes out of our mouths is just as important is the ability to speak well and understandably. We not only need the tools for communication, we also need to have the essential message that needs to be communicated, and that message is love.
In the next section, Paul speaks of having not just one gift, but three: prophecy, wisdom, and knowledge. Then he adds on giant faith to the three. He is showing that you can have many, many gifts, but that without love, they are meaningless to others and to ourselves.
Now, Paul turns to actions rather than spiritual gifts. He speaks of giving away everything to help others and dying as a martyr. He says that those actions do not earn your way into heaven. He says that those actions only have meaning when they are done from love. Muslim martyrs believe that they are earning their way into rewards in heaven as they blow themselves up. They don’t realize that they are operating from selfish motives. Paul says that when you are giving and sacrificing selfishly, it does not benefit you at all. Only by giving and sacrificing out of love for others, do we have any gain.
(Revelation of God / Application / Prayer) In the end, it is our love for Jesus that counts. Everything else is a symptom, not a cause. If we love Jesus, we will have spiritual gifts, give to others, and sacrifice out of love. If we do these things without loving Jesus, we are trying to earn a place on our own depending on ourselves, rather than staying connected to You. I pray that I will be with You, and know You. This passage shows me what You value. It is love, not empty gestures. If a gift is given in love, You value it. If a gift is given as a payoff, You hold it in contempt.