LOVE

By Nick Kalb

Story

When you think of God’s power, what do you think of? I think of Moses’ and the parting the Red Sea, Samson’s strength, and Peter and John doing miracles of healing. Those are the really exciting stories, and I often wish to do something like what I read in those stories myself. Who wouldn’t want to feel like a Bible superhero?

As I think of what it would mean to do big things for God, I think of preaching the Gospel to a HUGE crowd of people, and all of them believing in Jesus because of me. I think of going to far away places, helping lots of children with basic needs, and being treated like a hero for it.

However, as I get older, I start to see something I missed in those stories. God parting the Red Sea was for a special purpose: He was trying to do something in the hearts of the Israelites. For all the power God gave Samson, Samson’s heart was ungrateful. Finally, God gave Peter and John the ability to perform those miracles of healing not just because it was helpful, but because God wanted to accomplish something in the hearts of those that saw it take place.

The thing I had been missing in all those stories is how all of the power that God uses is so that our hearts can be with Him.

Bible

“The three most important things to have are faith, hope and love. But the greatest of them is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

“May you have power together with all the Lord’s holy people to understand Christ’s love. May you know how wide and long and high and deep it is. And may you know his love, even though it can’t be known completely. Then you will be filled with everything God has for you.” (Ephesians 3:18-19)

Think

It’s by faith that the heroes of the Bible did great works, but it was all in the service of love. Love is the Great Work that God does in each of us. After all, it's not by miracles that Jesus says that we will prove the truth of the Gospel, but by our love for one another (John 13:35). Therefore, love is greater than faith.

What is it that we hope for? To enjoy His love face to face. Once we finally see Him, our hope is fulfilled. We won’t need it cause we have Him! Therefore, love is greater than hope, since love will outlast it.

The Great Work each of us will have to do is allow His love to fill us up and overflow to others. That sounds easy, but it’s not. Who are the people that bother you the most? Who are the people that make you jealous, or cause you to be angry? Those are the ones that you must love like Jesus does. There are parts of your heart that are unlovely. God’s Great Work in you is to cover those parts in His love until you give them up to Him.

We need faith, hope, and love now, but when we see Him, all we’ll need is love!

Do Something

Someone needs to hear that you love them. You need to tell them even if it stings.

Pray

Dear God, thank You for Your love. Forgive me for the times I am unlovely. Help me to have faith and hope, so that I could love others the way You do. In Jesus’ name, amen.