In preparation for this week’s post, I searched the internet for a list of adjectives, both biblical and non-biblical, describing love. Not surprisingly, I found a whole lot of what I already expected, mostly things I know and believe to be true about love.

The one specific word I was looking for, however, wasn’t found. Yet I perceived was present in the many varied descriptions of love that I read, and by this I am referring to the word power.

I understand power may not be the first word that comes to mind as it relates back to love. At the same time, void of power, love would be reduced to a lifeless word and clearly it’s far more than that.

What’s so Powerful About Love?

Well for starters, love is powerful because God is love. (1 John 4:8).

He is the author of love, the source of love and, through Jesus, the tangible, physical representation and demonstration of love. On this I believe we’d all agree.

But wait there’s more…

There’s more because in addition, God is incredibly powerful.

And His power is not limited to His work in creation, the exodus, the prophets, or the incarnation, miracles, crucifixion, or resurrection of Jesus.

God was, is, and will always be powerful. In fact everything He does originates from His power, because it’s Who He is. God is equal parts love and power.

Power and Love Belong to God

Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.
Psalm 62:11-12 (ESV)

So now that we’ve established why love is so powerful, there’s a second critical piece to this powerful equation, and that’s where we come in.

God Reveals His Love Through Us

I find it amazing and simultaneously perplexing that God’s plan for revealing Himself to the world is, and has always been, man. Obviously He is self-sufficient in need of no one and no thing. Still for reasons all His own, He chooses to accomplish His purposes on the earth through people and this includes you and me.

In a literal sense, we are the hands, feet, and messengers of God. As Christ-followers we’ve been pronounced ambassadors (1 Cor 5:15) entrusted with the ministry of representing Him to the world. And this is not something we are capable of or required to accomplish on our own. It’s all the work of God, yet it’s made effective and visible through us.

The problem however, is the disconnect that occurs when we consider God’s power and love as limited to Him, not realizing that He has given us His Spirit.

We’ve received God’s Love and Power

…God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit…
Romans 5:5 (NIV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you….
Acts 1:8 (ESV)

And I will put my Spirit within you….
Ezekiel 36:27 (ESV)

We are Empowered to Love

And God has given us His love and power not simply that we might contain it, but equally important, that we would reflect it. I know it sounds outrageous, but it’s true nonetheless. God’s plan for demonstrating His perfect love to the world is releasing it through imperfect people just like us.

…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13 (NIV)

A Quick Review

  • God is love
  • His love is powerful
  • His powerful love resides in us
  • We’ve been empowered to love

Every statement is true!

But believing these statements to be true is simply not enough. Rather, it’s what we do with the truth we’ve received that makes all the difference.

One Final Step

In order for God’s powerful, transforming love in us to be effective, it must be activated.

And this leads me to the final powerful step, which is practically doing the work of loving others. And to be clear, love is a work, but it’s God’s work. It’s not something we can achieve on our own. Instead, it’s a work God accomplished for us and demonstrates through us.

Accepting this assignment will require effort, intentionality, thought, humility, selflessness, patience, time, and forgiveness.

But the rewards of this mission result in benefits beyond compare and are sealed with a guaranteed promise from God that His love will never fail or cease to be.

Just as God is forever, so is His love.

And we, as the holy and dearly loved people of Yahweh (Colossians 3:12), are blessed recipients and chosen instruments called to imitate and demonstrate the amazing power of God’s love to the world.

Be so blessed my friends!

The power of God’s love is living and active in you!

Receive it…believe it…release it!

Extend grace to others! If you’ve been encouraged, strengthened, or edified by this week’s post, please consider sharing Grace Notes For You with a friend.

Question of the Week

In what meaningful ways, (for example: forgiveness, unity, compassion, humility) have you received, demonstrated or witnessed the power of God’s love?

Share your thoughts and encourage others by responding to this week’s question on my Grace Notes for You Facebook page here.

Reflection Questions

  • Begin this time with prayer asking God to reveal His heart and truth to you.
  • What aspects of God’s powerful love are most meaningful to you?
  • Write down a list of words that describe God’s love
  • Now review your list and consider how these words become powerful through action.

Personal challenge:

What practical action(s) might you commit to this week to demonstrate God’s powerful love to others?