“Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” – Proverbs 10:23
The Power of Love
Love is a powerful force of nature. Beyond its power in nature, is its unnatural and supernatural capacity to overcome great obstacles in the path to peace and righteousness. “Charity,” the old English translation of “agape” love, has some amazing qualities according to I Corinthians 13:
It “suffereth long.” That means it is very patient, even when patience hurts.
It is kind and never envies what the other person has. Real love is truly after helping someone else win and experience all of God’s best.
It “vaunteth not itself” and it “is not puffed up.” In other words, it is neither boastful nor proud. The one who loves is not out to make herself look good to others or to be elevated beyond importance.
It “doth not behave itself unseemly.” If we are being fashioned by love, it will make us less obnoxious and unpleasant.
Because love “seeketh not her own,” we never need to worry about the ulterior motives of the person loving. Because it “is not easily provoked,” we do not have to be concerned about inadvertently saying the wrong thing and sending a person into a tirade. We don’t have to walk on egg shells around real lovers.
Because love “thinketh no evil,” there is no sense that we are being judged or condemned by the ones who love us.
Because agape love “rejoiceth in the truth,” there are no concerns about dishonesty and deceit. Because it “beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things … “ and “never faileth,” love does not create an atmosphere of insecurity.
Love is powerful and, as powerful as it is, no one human being apart from Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God has ever been perfected in it. That is why the word from Proverbs is so important. One thing love does that nothing else can do is cover sins.
That is why Jesus, shedding His blood on the cross is the greatest expression of love in history. Valentine’s Day is a great reminder of the qualities of love. Good Friday is the extreme demonstration of what love costs and the extent to which it will go in order to manifest itself. God is love.
These words were written as church bulletin devotional for churches who offer Master Sunday Bulletins to their congregations. May it serve as a source of encouragement to you today. You are welcome to copy this devotion for one-time non-commercial, local church, or educational use. Please include the copyright line printed below with any reproduction. © Master Sunday Bulletins 2012. All rights reserved. Published by Master Sunday Bulletins · Merri V. Dennis, Publisher · Thomas B. Sims, Author