The Greatest of These Is Love

1 Corinthians 13 (New International Version, ©2010)

1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

When I was a child, I was extremely compassionate to those who were hurting. My heart went out to any cause and social justice issue... and in college I took on the nickname of Peaceful (as in Give Peace a Chance... John Lennon was my favorite Beatle).

And suddenly I changed

I no longer felt my heart ache for those who were mourning... I became more pessimistic with life in general... and more specifically with religion. You see, I had become a Christian. Yes, this was the way to peace... deep meaningful inner peace and all I continue to experience the pessimism.

But I know better, as a Christian we are supposed to be known for our love... our compassion. I believe that since I once was able to love deeply the world around me and now I am struggling with it there must be some sort of spiritual stronghold preventing the deeper love to manifest itself in my life.

There is a song by Brandon Heath entitled "Give Me Your Eyes" that talks about having the compassion that Jesus has for the rest of humanity.
Brandon Heath - Give Me Your Eyes lyrics | LyricsMode.com

I am praying that the compassion that once flowed so freely would return to me anew and that the pessimism would leave.