Lessons from Paul: The Power of Love
In the mid-1980’s a song entitled “The Power of Love” took the pop charts by storm. Contained within the catchy hit were lyrics describing what love is like and how it powerfully affects the emotional condition of a human being. According to this catchy tune, love is a feeling, a powerful, life-altering emotion. Yes, love songs and pop radio go together like hand and glove!
Now I’m not drawing any deep theological conclusions from this particular pop song talking about love, yet, one line from the song referring to love’s potential catches my attention. The writer quips that love “might just save your life.”
My initial thought in response to that statement was, “Oh really?”
Upon deeper reflection, there is, in fact, a love that is available to all people, not just lovers of pop music! In fact, it’s not a love that might, but rather a love that does—save! What love is this?
It is the love of God found in Christ Jesus our Lord!
The Greek word agape is the highest form of love, the love of God. Agape is used to describe the love that emanates from God, whose very nature is love itself. “God is love” (1 John 4:8).
When Jesus was asked in Matthew 23:36 what the greatest commandment was, He responded,
“‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37– 40).
The love in these commands is “agape” love, the love that transforms the world. It’s so simple, yet so profound and powerful. Love God and love others.
The Apostle Paul provided a description of this love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Jesus is our example of love, for His life was the epitome of love. In His love, He bore our sins: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
God knows man’s greatest need is love, the kind of love that provides forgiveness and reconciliation: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
As His witnesses, we must understand that evangelism is an expression of love.
Evangelism may include praying, serving, and proclaiming the gospel to people, people who are precious to God and people whom God loves.
As we grow in our love of God, I believe our love for people will grow, and hence, our witness will be more powerful and effective.
In light of this truth, how do we love God?
Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” and reiterates in John 14:23: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.” So, to love God is to obey God, for obedience is the only objective measure of our love of God.
And as we keep His Word we will abide, or remain, in His love. As Jesus declared in John 15:1-11,
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Andrew Murray reflected on this reality:
“If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love” (John 15:10). It is the heavenly Vine unfolding the mystery of the life He gives. It is to those abiding in Him to whom He opens up the secret of the full abiding in His love. It is the wholehearted surrender in everything to do His will, that gives access to a life in the abiding enjoyment of His love.
Obey and abide. Gracious Lord, teach me this lesson, that it is only through knowing Thy will one can know Thy heart, and only through doing that will one can abide in Thy love. Lord, teach me that as worthless as is the doing in my own strength, so essential and absolutely indispensable is the doing of faith in Thy strength, if I would abide in Thy love. [citation]
In our witness, the love of God should be expressed in the love of others, for Jesus said:
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).
Just as Jesus demonstrated His love by giving and sacrificing for others, may we as His witnesses (the Church) also demonstrate and proclaim the power of love, His agape love, the love that transforms, the love that saves! Amen.