THE EXTRAORDINARY POWER OF LOVE

 the extraordinary power of love

 God is love.  Hence, the believer’s daily demonstration of love is the most potent persuasion of our covenant connection with Christ.  (I John 4:7-8 and John 13:35)  Indeed, love has extraordinary power.  If you need practical proof, prayerfully consider the following true story.

 George Crane, a newspaper columnist who was also a minister, wrote about an angry wife who came into his office one day and seemed to be absolutely full of hatred toward her husband.  Here’s what she said: “I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even.  Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me.”

 Dr. Crane suggested an ingenious plan to that emotionally distraught wife: “Just go home and ACT as if you really love your husband.  Tell him how much he means to you.  Praise him for any accomplishments.  Go out of your way to be kind, considerate, and as generous as possible.  Spare no efforts to please him, and really try to enjoy him.  Make him BELIEVE that you really love him.  After you have convinced him of your undying love and loyalty and the fact that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb.  Tell him that you're getting a divorce.  That will really hurt him!”  With revenge in her eyes, the revenge filled wife smiled at him and exclaimed, “What you have shared is beautiful, creative and wonderful!  Will my husband be surprised!”  This determined wife followed George Crane’s advice with total enthusiasm.  For two full months, SHE ACTED AS IF SHE TRULY LOVED HIM!  For two full months, she showed unconditional love, kindness, attentiveness, supporting and sharing.

 In a few months,  she hadn’t returned to follow-up, so George Crane called her. “Are you now ready to go through with the divorce? he asked.

 “Divorce?” she exclaimed. “Never!   I discovered I really do love him.”  You see, her actions had changed her feelings!  Motion brought on emotion!  You see, the ability to love is established not so much by any verbal promise, but the ability to love is established by repeated loving deeds. 

 The Christian author, C.S. Lewis, penned similar thoughts in his book “Mere Christianity.”  C.S. Lewis wrote, "Do not waste your time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbor.  Just ACT as if you did.  As soon as we do this, we will discover one of life’s great secrets.  When you are behaving AS IF you love someone, you will soon come to a genuine love for that person.  But if you harm someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more.  If you do good deeds to that person, you will find yourself disliking him less and less.”

 Indeed, love is a decision.  Love is a choice.  That’s why you don’t really have to like someone in order to love someone.  And that’s why JESUS offers the powerful spiritual advice, recorded in Matthew 5:43-45.  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemies…bless those who curse you…do good to those who hate you…and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He…sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

 Since love is a decision, i.e. a choice, what kind of choices are you making today, especially regarding any person who doesn’t quite meet your standards?  Think.

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!