The Triumph Of Love

Love! The word is frequently used, greatly misunderstood, and commonly abused. I remember seeing one definition of love while growing up that sounded so sweet to me that I had to memorize it: 'Love is the feeling you feel when you think you are feeling something you never felt before'. Maybe there is a kind of love, whatever, that meets this definition, but it is definitely not the kind of Love that God wants to permeate our lives. That love is beyond feelings. Brothers and sisters, if there is any area we have to pay close attention to and audit regularly, it is the purity and depth of our love.

The bible made it clear that our services to God and humanity are useless unless it is driven by genuine love. The first time I paid close attention to what Paul said about Love, I realized I fell short in many areas and it bothered me greatly. I realized how important it is for Love to triumph and permeate all that I do. Paul wrote, 'Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.' (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) This is one of the places in the bible that one has to read, meditate and evaluate oneself against every now and then.

It is clear that those things people boast of, fast and pray for and even go to mountains in search of are useless unless love first triumphs in their lives. 'If it is not love-driven, it profits one nothing'. And when you examine the characteristics of a life that love has triumphed in as described by the bible, you will be greatly challenged. The bible described love thus: 'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It 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.' (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). It is time you measure your love against these traits. Imagine how beautiful many homes will be if husbands and wives will regularly benchmark their love against these.

How does your love measure? What is the depth, height, length, and width of your love? Does it transcend emotions? Is it so high that the bitterness of others can't drown it. Is it so wide that the hurt of yesterday can't shrink it? Is it so long that the disappointment of others, tribalism, and racism can't overcome it? How pure is the love you have for others? How sacrificial is it? Sometimes, we claim to love people, but it is not because we actually do love them, but being associated with the 'object' romances 'self'. Don't be like many who pay lip service to love. Let love control your actions, reactions, thoughts, and direction. Let love permeate everything you think, say, or do. Let it triumph over your emotions, hurts, and disappointment. Don't take possession of negative behavior such as overpowering anger, be determined to make your actions love-driven. Eject wickedness and related feelings from your spirit, refuse to nurture them. Let the spirit and heart of love possess you all around.

Jesus emphasized the need for our love to go beyond our friends and relatives, and touch even people that we feel are enemies. He said, 'You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy'. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Aren't even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.'(Matthew 5:43-48). I encourage you not to join those who waste their prayer life praying the so-called dangerous prayers against others, it is an anti-christian concept.

Finally, Let love triumph in your life. When you discover areas in your life that are deficient in love, make out time to pray about it, and don't stop praying until love permeates you all around.