The Power of Love

Power is appealing.

Those who have it don’t want to lose it. Those who don’t have it will try and get it. Power is also very subtle and sometimes we do not even know its influence on us until we stop and reflect.

Relationships are powerful.

We were created to live in community with others. The role of relationships and connection contributes to a whole lot of positive outcomes: mentally, emotionally, physically/biologically, and spiritually.

Yet unhealthy and destructive relationships also contribute to a host of negative outcomes: mentally, emotionally, biologically and spiritually.

We need a reformation of love.

NT Wright states: The rule of love, I say again, is not an optional extra. It is of the very essence of what we are about. If this means we need some new reformations, so be it.

Wright, T. (2011). Early Christian Letters for Everyone: James, Peter, John and Judah (p. 159). SPCK; Westminster John Knox Press.

God’s people John the disciple states is to be about love because this is the heart and character of our God. Yet, sadly for some the abuse of power and the destruction of relationships too often take place in churches, even ours.

God’s heart is shown at Christmas.

When you want to know what God is like, we have two major events for our display: Christmas and Easter.

Love is meant to be lived.

Notice in these verses how John reminds us that love was sent into the world to live. Love is not just a ideal to think about. Love is not just a feeling to have. Love is an action meant to be done.

Love is best indwelt.

Love cannot just be something we do it must embody our very existence. This is what John is getting at. If you claim to know God you will live as he did, indwelling this world with love.

Jesus’ love creates & sustains our love.

We cannot have this kind of love on our own. This is one of the biggest lies we believe as a culture and sometimes as Christians. We think we can do it our way, on our terms, on our own. This is not true.

In love, we do not fear the future.

When we allow love of Jesus to indwell us, flow out of us and sustain us the future is no longer scary. We do not fear what will happen because we know who loves us.

May we love like Jesus.

Christmas reminds us we the church do not exist for our own comfort, desires or mission. We are all about Jesus. He came to love and call people to be reconciled to God and others. This is hard work. This is necessary work.