Morning Devotional 051625 The Language of Love

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

  May 16, 2025

1 Corinthians 14:9-12

9 It’s the same way with you: If you don’t use language that is easy to understand when you speak in a tongue, then how will anyone understand what is said? 10 It will be as if you are speaking into the air! There are probably many language families in the world, and none of them are without meaning. 11 So if I don’t know the meaning of the language, then I will be like a foreigner to those who speak it, and they will be like foreigners to me. 12 The same holds true for you: since you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, use your ambition to try to work toward being the best at building up the church.

Good Morning! Bless be the ties that bind us!

I grew up in a small rural farm community, and I rarely heard anyone speaking a language other than English, except in a Foreign Language class at school. I vividly remember the first time I was in an elevator where people were speaking other languages. It was interesting because it was a new experience, but I had no idea what anyone was saying. 

The number of languages and dialects extends far beyond any one person’s ability to comprehend. To be fluent in multiple languages is a gift! When I was teaching at Charlottesville High School, I worked with students from many different countries. I was constantly amazed by their ability to switch back and forth from their home language to English. My brain struggles with the idea of being able to change languages at the flip of a switch. 

Most of us are fluent in one or two languages at best, but I have another language challenge for us to consider. Think of times when the other person is speaking your language, but they are using words that you are unable to understand. This might happen in an appointment with a lawyer or doctor, but it can even happen with a mechanic or technician. 

We have all had those moments when we had no idea what someone was saying to us. Until you can find some common ground, the conversation is useless because we don’t know the meaning of their words. It’s not that we can’t learn the words, but we must have some context to make sense of them.

When we share the words of Christ, we must begin with the basics. You could be a great theologian, but if your words are not understandable, they fall on deaf ears. When we speak of love and forgiveness, we set the context for our conversation. From there, we slowly teach the language of love and the teachings of Christ. 

Loving Lord, Maker of all things! You speak to us by loving us! Help us share the love you give us with all we meet. Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: Speak in the language of love!

Love one another! Pastor Liz