It is possible to feel powerless as a Christian in modern society. Political parties are full of corruption on all sides. Wars and rumors of wars fill every corner of the earth. Divorce rates continue to climb. Church leaders are regularly caught in adultery. How can we, the ones who are supposed to “turn the other cheek” and be as “gentle as doves” hope to bring change to the world? 

1 Corinthians 12:4-8

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails.

It did not say love is weak. It did not say that love is powerless. It did not say that love is afraid. Many of the miracles Jesus performed were done when He was “moved by compassion.” Love releases the power of heaven on earth. Love is aggressive. It seeks to bring the justice of heaven to every injustice on earth. It fights for the restoration of the victim and the redemption of the victimizer. God is love. Therefore love is powerful. 

God’s love sent His son to die for the redemption of all mankind. His love is the final authority in heaven and on earth. There is nothing higher. 

I believe that the enemy has tried to rob love of its power. He wants us to feel powerless when confronted with the darkness in this world. In reality, we have been given all authority through the power of His great love. 

We Are Commissioned

Jesus did not come just to die for our sins. If that were the case, the Gospels would have been much shorter. Jesus came as the redeemer of our sins, but also as an example of what it looked like to be a child of God. His life was not just an act of love. It was an example. As He ascended into heaven, after he had been resurrected, He gave us a great commission:

Matthew 28:18-20

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

We have been commissioned with the full authority of heaven, and our words and actions are meant to carry that authority. We are not meant to look at the world with the authority of kings and queens in the kingdom of God. We are to look at the world as ambassadors of heaven, commissioned to make our world look like His. 

It is easy to see the darkness in the world, but we are called to something higher. We are called to be the light. We are called to be the city on the hill that cannot be hidden. We are called to shine. God’s love acts both as the power to make us shine and the authority to let us do it. 

Now let’s attack the fears that have held us back from showing God’s love to others. Whether it’s as simple as not knowing where to start or as big as being overwhelmed by all darkness we see in the world, God is ready to empower the church to do His work on the earth. If you need boldness, He will give it. If you need wisdom, He will give it. If you just need permission, He will give it.

Pray this prayer:

Jesus, help me see the world as you did when you were here. Help me not be overwhelmed but inspired by what I see. Show me how to release your goodness into the earth by the authority of your love. Thank you for commissioning us with your authority. Show me the tools you’ve given me to do your will. 

What has your perspective been on the nature of God’s love? Do you see it as powerful?