but have not love, I am nothing

oh Jon Foreman.

"Revenge"

I'm the failure
I'm everyone's fool
And I'm losing my cool at the end

I'm the loser
My number's come up
I've been hung up with thoughts of
Revenge,
Revenge,
Revenge

I watched you
From my terminal view
As you struggled to rise to your end

I laughed hard
At the insults we threw
As the weight of the world found
Revenge

The world hung upside down
I drew first blood
I drew first blood
With my hate for a crown
I drew first blood
I drew first blood
Revenge

I watched heaven
Dying today
And I'm gonna die here tonight

I'm a villain
I deserve to be dead
I've been hung up for
Wreckin' my life
Revenge

So I stopped for a moment
To look at the sun
Dying today

That's when the irony hit me
That this was revenge
Love had descended
And stolen our pain
Away

We consumed heaven's Son
I drew first blood
I drew first blood
My hate was undone
I drew first blood
I drew first blood
Revenge

Here's a story
How a thief had been robbed
How a murder had stolen my rage

Think of me, Lord
I'm a few breaths away
As my lungs finally rip from the
Cage...
Revenge

...ok, wow. I've heard this song plenty of times before, and I've been thinking about this song all day and how the words are just perfect for me right now. I only just now realized that this is yet another song where the speaker of the song is the thief on the cross next to Jesus.

well, that makes even more sense then. That thief and I have a lot in common.

Father, forgive me. For 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.

May I be a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal no longer.

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.

This is how You have loved me. Oh Father, may the price You paid rob me of my hate. I want to love like You do so much, but fail every day. And You still say, "there is no condemnation!" because of the price You paid. Because of the price You paid, may I love!

and please bring reconciliation among Your people - For Your name's sake! ...Amen.

My Lord is loving and strong.