SOAP Devotional by Jazden Martinez (Senior at NHCC)
What if God told you that in your future you are going to do the greatest work for Him of all men? What if He told you that He was going to call you to the greatest responsibility of any human being? What would you imagine your future would look like? Do you imagine yourself leading a worship team like Maverick City? Or what about leading a crusade like Billy Graham? These things would be great! But what if the greatest and grandest calling that anybody could ever do, is none of these things? What if it is something you can start today? That is what this devotion is about.
S) 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 “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 a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 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.”
O) So often, we value so highly some of the Spirit’s gifts. People see those gifted in healing and those who so easily speak in tongues, coveting those gifts. It can be easy to place these things on a pedestal, making judgments about how holy or spiritual this person is. This passage reminds us that of all these things—of the tongues, all knowledge, all prophecy, and all sacrifice—none of it means anything if love fails to be present.
A) Sometimes I think I seek to do the works and big things of God. The things God calls me to do and the ministry God calls me to be a part of, I think I so often focus on the “bigger” responsibilities and how I can do big things but fail to remember the most important action; to simply love.
Nothing I do will ever be more important than loving people. I need to love all people through God’s eyes, with God’s heart, and with His intentions; this is the greatest call of all.
P) Lord, help me to love when I fail to! I am weak and fall into my weaknesses so often where I fail to simply love. Instead, I get caught in the love I don’t receive. God, keep my focus on loving you above all, and loving all people! I love you, God, and in your name, amen!
