*Does love have power?* Where the law failed, love has triumphed ! The law could have been easily remembered in just two commandments : *"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength... Love your neighbour as yourself"* since *"all the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments."* ( Matthew 22:37-40) Yet the law failed to get men to *'love God and shun evil'* because the law *'was weakened by the sinful nature'* - ( Romans 8:3). But where God's law was unable to control our minds ( Romans 8:6-7), His love has succeeded in conquering our hearts ! *'You see, at the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were sinners, Christ died for us.'* ( Romans 5:6-8) God's love has the emotional power to sway our hearts and turn them around from wickedness, rebellion and sin. (Even so, when rules fail to control our children, our love can win them over!) Now that we have come to believe in the gospel, his love compels us to live for him. *'For Christ's love compels us because we are convinced that one died for all and therefore all died. And he died for all that those who love should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.'* ( 2 Corinthians 5:14-15) It was not his power that *subjugated* ( bring under domination or control) us but his love! God had spoken of his power more than he had of his love, in the old testament, but men found out that the Almighty is a loving God.*'One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God are strong, and that you, Lord are loving.'* ( Psalm 62:11-12) The display of God's power was often seen under the old covenant but that didn't perfect their obedience but the ultimate display of his love in the new covenant has captivated our hearts and we have surrendered to him. The Bible says that God's *'love is patient, ... kind. It does not envy ... does not boast, ... not proud ... not rude ... not self-seeking ... not easily angered ... keeps no record of wrongs ... does not delight in evil ... rejoices with the truth ... always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.* His *'love never fails.'* ( 1 Corinthians 13:4-8) And his power is manifested on behalf of those who love him and are loved by him. *'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.'* ( Romans 8:28) The more we grasp the depth of his love, more is the fullness of God we will experience! The more we receive his love in our hearts, more is the power to forgive and forget the trespasses against us, just as he forgave our trespasses against him. *'Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.'* ( 1 Peter 4:8) Let's discover the power of love. Amen.
Sam Matthews. K
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