Daily Worship

Reflection

January 12, 2014 0 0

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Mark 10:42-44

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not 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 have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 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 childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor 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.

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

Lord,
When I look in the mirror
I see a reflection
but it’s not the me
I want to be.

I hide my shape
My feelings
My hurt
My disappointment
My anger
My love
My innermost dreams
I lock them all away.
I hide ‘me’
I’m afraid
to look at the real me.
I act as though I was
my own personal terrorist.
I’m my own worst enemy.
You see everything, Lord,
nothing is hidden from you.

Help me
see myself
as others see me.
Then, give me the courage
To face my own reality.
To recognise my faults
To change my moods
To speak the right words
To curb my tongue
To look outside myself
To see the needs of others
To use my hidden
anger
fear
disappointment
and love
to serve your creation.
To serve You.
Teach me to be a servant
rather than a saboteur.