The word love is perhaps the most commonly used and misused word in our language. Love has been so exhausted in definitions and quotations in this day, it has lost its effectiveness and its appeal. But love is a powerful word. It is defined as “an intense feeling of deep appreciation or fondness for a person or thing,” but love means so much more than that. Love—I mean true love—is best defined through it’s expression and demonstration. Love is the most prominent theme through the Bible. It is used when describing the relationships of fathers and sons, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters in Christ, etc. It is most accurately described in the relationship between God and His people. Through love God chose, and continuously forgave, the people of Israel. Through love God sent His Son in order that we may have a hope of heaven. Through love we serve God and we serve each other. Consider the power of love and what it can do for us.

The Characteristics of Love. Love is from God. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not know love does not know God, for God is love” (). Love is from God and is to be displayed in us. We were made in God’s image, and God is love. Therefore we ought to be lovely and loving.

This love is powerful. The wisest of all men, Solomon, mentions in his poetry to his bride that love is as strong as death. Love is also strong enough to cause death. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (). Love is the greatest power of all. God’s love for us is what saves us. It is only through His love and mercy that we will be forgiven.

The Effects of Love. “Where love is in the home there’s happiness, where love is in the home there’s joy; tho the fare may simple be, still it’s very plain to see-where love is in the home there’s joy” (Hymns for Worship, 308). The natural result of shared love is joy and happiness. Unity, peace and oneness are sure to follow. When considering Christian graces in , we read, “And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” Love has the power to bring families together and keep them there. Love is the foundation upon which the family is built and the glue which holds it together.

Love’s power not only holds the immediate family together, but it is the fuel which drives the church family, too. We are to unite ourselves in love; “make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (). Throughout this chapter, Paul speaks of our need to be like Christ and have His attitude in us. It tells us how we are to treat one another. We are not to be selfish or puffed up, but we are to love and serve one another. By doing so we will be serving God and strengthening each other.

Love one another!