There is Power in Love!
Quite often, the most precious and impacting things in life are those without a price tag. And of the many possible varieties, love is still the greatest!
People may earn a very high salary, experience the costliest possessions, enjoy a most prestigious position in society, acquire the best educational opportunities. But if love is missing, no person is truly fulfilled; genuine happiness will be lacking.
Love is not fulfilled from a script. It must flow naturally from a heart ready to respond to a need it recognizes, or a human object it encounters.
No one is ever so poor as to be incapable of giving something out of one’s self. Christ, through His poverty, has enriched many, and continues to bless abundantly those who come to Him in faith. The widow, through her last coin, contributed significantly to the kingdom of God, receiving more praise from Christ than the wealthy who gave just a portion of their abundance.
Francis of Assissi, who left home in total nakedness and destitution, started an enterprise which until this day continues to provide to the varied needs of many, all over the world. And the story goes on, through the centuries, where several people learn to move beyond their lack into the abundance which stems from loving hearts and creative minds.
True love is perennial. not seasonal, flowing from one heart unto the life of another. It does not depend on a switch that may be turned on or off, depending on circumstances. And there is enough love and joy in the world to go around. No one needs be deprived of these. Yet, one must take the initiative in discerning and acquiring true love and genuine joy!
In his signature song, Tom Jones’ voice has sounded: “It’s not unusual to be loved by anyone; it’s not unusual to have fun with anyone.” And that is ever true in the sense that God Himself spread abroad His own love into His human creatures. With respect to His redeemed, His Word explains that “we love because He first loved us.” He also offered us the right pattern to follow, when He issued this important command. Author Bruce Larson commented that “a vertical relationship with God is reflected in our horizontal relationship with those around us.”
There is much chatter about love everywhere. The world is replete with new translations and mistranslations of love. And while all this occurs, multitudes in the human family starve for true love. To be real, love requires action, more than mere words; genuine love is validated only by concrete, palpable demonstrations of its reality and power!
Any kind of day may be faced, any difficult situation endured, by anyone who is certain of being loved - first by God, but also by family, friends, and meaningful acquaintances. And as Father John Powell once put it: “love demands presence, not presents. All my gifts (presents) are mere motion until I have given my true self (presence) in honest self-revelation.” Only so will the power of love be felt!
April 18th, 2007 at 11:14 am
I enjoyed your comment. We sometimes fail to see the importance of the love commandment.
May 16th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Love is the essence of God. He revealed this love throughout the Bible but primarily in the incarnation. Love must be the essence of our lives in Christ. He offered this love in Christ to all those who believe in him. None of us merit this love, nevertheless he gives it freely to all those who believe.