The power of love

Bottom line: Love will preserve your relationship with men. 

Teaching

Daily, we meet new people in different areas of society. Then, we quickly create a bond with them, and they become an integral part of our lives. Some of these relationships may have been divinely set up by heaven, we don’t know. Then, because we could not accommodate each other’s weaknesses, we destroy these precious bonds and shatter the relationship.

One thing we must understand is this: we can’t function in this world like an island. We can’t build walls around our lives to stop others from getting in because we feel like they are not worth it. When we do that, we instead imprison ourselves, and that is exactly what the devil desires. God on the other hand wants us to be a community, well bonded together in LOVE.

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 

1 Peter 4: 8(ESV)

Too many relationships have been broken because we lack the Love of God. Fathers are separated from their children, brothers don’t talk to their sisters, and some members of the family don’t see themselves for years because of an offense.

The love of God permits you to accommodate the weakness of the other. Men with ordinary love will love only when they are well-treated. But they will express hate when they have been wronged. The love of God accommodates both love and hatred. i.e. Someone with God’s love will love even when he is hated. This is what makes this love powerful because love always overcomes hatred. 

The Bible in our opening text says love covers a multitude of sins. We are therefore required to love most when the other person has sinned against us. That is the love of God. Remember that.

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

If our love for each other can go beyond our weaknesses, then we will be able to preserve our relationship with each other. We can’t say we love when we can’t forgive. Forgiveness is not given because the other person apologized, but it is given because we value our relationship with that person more than our egos. We forgive because Jesus forgave us. We forgive because it’s our nature, it’s the nature of love. We forgive to preserve our relationship.

While Jesus was still on the cross, he cried out.

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Luke 23:34

Stephen also cried out to the lord and interceded for his persecutors instead of cursing them.

⁵⁹ And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

⁶⁰ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 

Acts 7:59-60 (ESV)

This is the love that is required to keep the bond between father and child, husband and wife, brother, and sister, etc.

Therefore, exercise the love of God today. Mend your broken relationships by forgiving the ones who offended you and making peace with them, and you shall experience increased joy in your lives in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Further Study

• John 15:13 [Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.]

Reflection

• Are there relationships that you have cut short because you got offended?
• Do you still hold a grudge against someone you love?
•  Remember, while you were still a sinner, God forgave you and gave his life for you. You are therefore required to forgive all those who offended you as the Lord has forgiven you.
• What steps will you take to mend your relationship with them?

Prayer

Thank you, heavenly Father for loving me even when I rebelled against you. Thank you for giving me the heart of Christ Jesus, a heart which forgives. I declare that I have forgiven anyone who has wronged me before, and my heart now is full of love for them in Jesus’ name. Amen.