An Empire of Love

Napoleon once declared, “Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself have founded empires, upon what do these creations of our genius depend? Upon force. Jesus alone founded His empire upon love and to this very day millions would die for Him.” Indeed, the “empire” of Christ is rooted in, motivated by, and dependent upon love.

In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Paul personified love by listing fifteen characteristics it possesses. He wrote, “Love is patient and kind; love does not Envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Hence, if love were a person, this is how he would conduct himself.

Christians are to “pursue love” (1 Corinthians 14:1), “bear with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2), “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), “walk in love” (Ephesians 5:2), “have the same love” (Philippians 2:2), “be knit together in love” (Colossians 2:2), “put on love” (Colossians 3:14), “increase and about in love” (1 Thessalonians 3:12), and “stir up one another to love” (Hebrews 10:24). It is to be the motivating force behind everything we do (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

Warren Wierbe wrote, “Love is the circulatory system of the spiritual body, which enables all the members to function in a healthy, harmonious way.” I like that! Love provides the oxygen and nutrients needed for our eyes to see that hurting, our ears to hear sighing, our hands to help the struggling, and our feet to chase the wandering. It delivers good things while eliminating the bad!

There are many ways in which love can be misplaced. For instance, some love the glory of men (John 12:43), themselves (2 Timothy 3:2), money (2Timothy 3:2), pleasure (2Timothy 3:4), the world (2 4:10), or the preeminence (3 John 9, KJV). Hence, it is important to make sure that we love the right things.

Jesus knew that love was paramount (Matthew 22:37-40). It was at the core of His message and mission, and it has propelled His kingdom beyond all others. May God help us to do our part in this empire of love!