Friday, May 22, 2009

The Power of Love

Written: 19th December 2008

By: Joseph M. Asiam

Love is the most potent weapon against evil.  Love can move any mountain—name it!  God’s kind of love is an unshakable force that can break through any barricade or stronghold.

This love says “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21).  In other words, don’t repay evil with evil; repay evil with good.  Bless when they curse. And when they throw evil darts at you, quench it with the shield of faith and answer with good darts.  The world only gets worse when we practice tit for tat.

I know of no other force that changes people than the force of love. It will change even the vilest person: 

It turns sinners into saints

It turns a nasty husband into a loving, most compassionate one

It turns a mean, insubordinate wife to a humble, submissive one

It turns a rebellious child into a humble, sober one

No wonder scripture says, “Many waters cannot quench love”. If love could be quenched then God can be quenched. Because God is love.  That’s why love is so powerful.  So when you engage this potent weapon, no devil can stop you. 

13 key characteristics of love

  1. Love does not base her actions on what the other person is doing. Love just loves
  2. Love does not expect anything in return
  3. Love is proactive; not reactive
  4. Love makes excuses for the other person
  5. Love is tenderhearted and quick to forgive
  6. Love is patient—perhaps the most crucial attribute. It does not give up on people easily
  7. Love gives room for error—it does not crucify people for doing wrong
  8. Love allows people to be themselves
  9. Love gives room for the other person to grow
  10. Love is attractive—it pulls like magnet. That’s why Jesus Christ (who is Love Himself) pulled so much crowd during His earthly ministry
  11. Love assumes/thinks the best of people
  12. Many waters cannot quench love—love never fails
  13. And the ultimate: Love is a choice:

It is not a feeling or emotion and can never and will never be.  It is purely a choice.  I guess this is what really makes love what it is.

“While we were yet sinners, Christ [chose to die] for us” (Rom 5:8, Mawudem’s Living Translation).  He did not “feel” like dying—remember His prayer in the garden of Gethsemane—yet He chose to let the will of His Father be done. 

With this eternal force we can conquer the world!

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