The Power of Love

It was a simple act and not given with much thought. I was in a grocery store aisle looking for my favorite coffee, which was on sale (BOGO!). An older woman was there looking at the same section. “That sure is a good price for your coffee. I wish they had mine on sale.” Then she asked, “Do you like that coffee.” “Ah, yes,” I replied. “It’s my favorite.” She asked me if they made a light roast. I soon pointed to it. With some difficulty, she bent down and grabbed a bag. Unfortunately, it was whole bean, so I took it from her and reached for the ground version. As I gave it to her, she thanked me and then said this: “I want to give you a hug!” And before I said anything, her arms were around me.

As I walked away from her, I thanked the Lord for him using me in a stranger’s life. I think I made her day, and she definitely made mine. What a blessing it is to bless others!

If you have read many of my posts over the years, I believe you know how weary I am of the anger and meanness permeating our culture, which sadly has found its poisonous tentacles invading the Church. This has been fueled by unloving and inflammatory commentary on television, radio, and social media, which we have allowed to influence us more than the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

And that has led to a resemblance to the Pharisees who opposed Jesus. They were devout men who were committed to God and to righteousness. Yet, they were without love and mercy toward their fellow human beings. Jesus said they were hypocrites for all sorts of reasons—they did their religious duties for show; by their legalism they led people away from God; they were blind to the truth of the Scriptures; they were more focused on outward things than on the internal state of a person; they appeared to be spiritually alive, but in fact were dead; and they were ruthless with anyone who dared challenge their views (Matthew 23). In fairness to the Pharisees, not all were like these Jesus described, such as Nicodemus (John 3:1-10; 7:50-51; 19:39)

There was a harshness about them to which Jesus homed in on. Would he say similar things about today’s religious leaders? Could he say them about any of us? Is our bent to be more condemning, more critical rather than more loving and merciful toward those that disagree with us? In some Christian circles, it seems there is a strong belief that there is power in tough, harsh rhetoric against those we perceive as a threat. Yes, we can argue that Jesus was doing just that in the passage cited above. But, first, we are not Jesus, and second, because we know he was God, all of this was said to them out of love. I’m not sure that is true of most of us engaged in the “culture wars.” I think there is more of a sense of satisfaction that we believe we are right.

Yet, without love, continual critique has a corrosive effect. People we target over time become mere objects rather than human beings like us, fellow creatures of God. While in the extreme, this is how the Nazis were able to convince the majority of German citizens that the Jews were not truly human. They constantly criticized them and made them responsible for all the country’s ills. Again, this is an extreme example, but when I hear criticism of either “liberals” or “conservatives,” election workers, judges, etc., I see similarities. Little love and little grace.

What I was reminded of in that grocery store aisle last week was the power of love. Paul describes love as, patient, kind, not envious, not boastful or proud.  Love, he says, does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (I Corinthians 13:4-7) Last week, I was kind to that woman. I blessed her and, in turn, she blessed me.

Oh Church, let us be more focused on truly loving others, whether they be strangers, enemies, or friends. True love is what our culture desperately needs from each of us. And it will not only bless them; it will bless us as well!

© Jim Musser 2023 All Scripture references are from the New International Version, 2011.