Persuasion or Love?

If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing…. no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I am bankrupt without love.

1 Corinthians 13: 2, 7

̴The Message

How much time do we spend trying to persuade others to see the world through our lens? Political arguments divide friends and family on Facebook. Ambition tramples a co-worker. Families clash over how to care for an ailing parent. Parents discipline a teenager without first listening. Friends wound each other over the question of wearing masks. Well-founded theological arguments slash hearts. Empathy’s lost. We all cling to our own opinions, ambitions, and beliefs.

And we may be right. Maybe our political views do line up with the overall good for the nation. Maybe our business ambitions do bring success. Maybe our way of caring for others is most effective. Maybe we do share true wisdom with our kids. Maybe we do speak truth in our churches.

But . . .

Here’s the rub. If we don’t have love, we have nothing. Unless we sacrificially love, nothing we say or do matters. Even when we are right.

Jesus modeled sacrificial love. With His gentle eyes, Jesus saw the people, their brokenness, and their need for love and healing. He offered grace and acceptance, a place to breathe and rest. And every time… every time the people walked away from an encounter with Jesus, they walked away changed, transformed, renewed. Not because of persuasion, but because of love.

How often do we seek persuasion instead of love? Perhaps during this election season, during this time of upheaval and division, God calls us to simply love people. Vote as you feel led. Live as you feel led. Raise your kids as you feel led. Set boundaries as you feel led.

And . . .

Love people. Assume the best in others. Engage in random acts of kindness. Serve. Give thanks. Be hospitable. Love your enemy. Accept differences. Ask for, and give, forgiveness. Simply love people.

Love never gives up

Love cares more for others than for self

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have

Love doesn’t strut

Doesn’t have a swelled head

Doesn’t force itself on others

Isn’t always, “me first”

Doesn’t fly off the handle

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others

Doesn’t revel when others grovel

Takes pleasure in the flowering truth

Puts up with anything

Trusts God always

Always looks for the best

Never looks back

But keeps going to the end.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

̴The Message