The Power of Love
February 14, 2023
While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran
and embraced him and kissed him. Luke 15:20
Today is the day to celebrate love in countries where Valentines Day is observed. The focus of the day is usually on romantic love, which is a very special, exciting, and beautiful expression of love. Such love is certainly worth celebrating, but so are all expressions of love. Love in whatever form is arguably the most powerful force on earth.
The Bible tells us that “love comes from God, for God is love.” Love in its purest form is what God offers to humankind. It is described in this famous passage from 1 Corinthians 13:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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.
and beautifully demonstrated in the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-31). We can picture the father having glimpsed his son from afar, running to meet him with joy and relief. This son, the same rude, cocky boy who had demanded his inheritance and left home to do his thing, now returns, humbled and wiser. Love helped him to get a second chance. What if his father had refused to welcome him and sent him back to the far country?
The power of love is that it can transform any situation and any relationship.
Love can be simply defined as seeking the good of others. It was love that caused God to send his Son to our rescue: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Why don’t we make more use of this powerful tool given to us by God? All the conflicts in the world could be solved by love. Such a gift should be used lavishly rather than sparingly. Regrettably, the effects of sin in the human heart and the influence of the evil one push love to the background while allowing unforgiveness, pride, malice, and hate to flourish. But the good news is that love is available to all. God, the source and epitome of love has an endless supply and wants to “shed his love abroad in our hearts”(Rom 5:5). We can learn to love. Love can increase.
Let’s pray for ourselves and our world, that love will increase. Let us take up the challenge to apply love to the situations around us. We can become love dispensers. What stories we will have to tell of love’s transforming power!
The Love of God is greater Far
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell.
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall;
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love, so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
Frederick Martin Lehman (1868-1953)
