Articles
The Power of Love
“And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing”
(1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
Reading this reminds me once again of the most important thing. We strive for accomplishment. We strive for recognition. We strive for education. But none of these mean anything if we do not have love.
Love is not milk-toast. It is demanding. It requires selflessness. Love demands long-suffering and proper behavior toward others. Love does not abide evil surmising. Love expects us to endure, believe all things, and hope all things. Love stands for right and hates what is wrong. Bottom line is, love never fails.
The one attribute of character that changed the world is love. It is not hate. It is not criticism. It is not getting the other told. It is not even getting even. Love is not mushy, gooey, or sticky. It is a reasoned choice that says, “I chose to love you.” I chose to give what is not deserved. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” I did not deserve that from Him. He chose to love me.
Notice God’s love was proven by action and measured by sacrifice. Look at it — proven by action, that is, “He gave.” He gave that which was dearest to Him and cost Him the most. He chose to. His love, further, is measured by sacrifice. Look again – He gave “His only begotten Son.” He gave Him for who? Sinners, those who were estranged from Him and who were His enemies. (Rom. 5:8). We are most like God when we love like He did.
Loving like God may require some action on my part toward someone I would rather not be kind to. But because I want to be like Him, I will speak well of that person. I will do that one good. I will pray for that one. Loving like God may require sacrifice on my part, too. I may be asked to give something that is costly to me. I may be asked to give of myself to someone I might rather not like a whole lot. Maybe even to someone who has done me harm.
Maybe I’m living in a dream land. I wonder how our world would change if we had leaders who demonstrated this kind of love for the people of this great nation? If for once they would just set aside partisanship? If both and all sides out of love for the nation sacrifice something that would benefit the nation? Again, what if leaders in the church would lead out of love? Lead by giving themselves and sacrificing pride for the good of the church? What if husbands really did love their wives as Christ loved the church? Would we have the abuse, vitriol in speech that often occurs in marriages by husbands toward their wives? What if brethren, even in disagreements, really sacrificed for the good of the other? Most disagreements are not about truth but about me and what I like or don’t like.
I think I have figured something out. Love makes us like God. Love will heal all. Let love be in abundance.
