Love again? Always, he says.

1 Corinthians 8:1-3 The test of whether or not something can or needs to be done for Christ's sake is not a merely a matter of knowledge (informed reason). It's true we need to always be as good as we can about reasoning something out. The Lord wants us to love him with all our minds. But before moving to action what we think is best, even when having the agreement of the best minds in the world, has to meet the test of love. Yes, it's great common sense. Yes it's reasonably the best course of action. But is it also loving. If not, we need to think deeper, research more, take another tack at the problem or issue or someone. Love is the final test in all things Jesus, for all actions carried out by a Jesus follower. Paul's advice was in answer to a church difference of opinion, but the same principle works on the mission field as well. It's love that builds up the church, Paul says-not knowledge. It's also love that builds up the lives of those on our mission fields; it's also love that builds up the world. It's love that builds the Kingdom-as much of it as we can ever build. The knowledge part of building the Kingdom is beyond us. That will have to be God's doing. That's why our best efforts at it are witnesses to what is coming by God in all it's fullness. Love is the farthest we can go for Christ's sake. Let's love the best we can and rely absolutely on the knowledge of the one who has all knowledge.