God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

There was a song that was very popular when I grew up; it was one of the main songs in a smash-hit movie called Back to the Future. The song was sung by Huey Lewis and the News and it was called “The Power of Love”. The song was trying to describe the massive force infatuation love can be in a teenager’s life (or such was the case in the movie).

The love of God is a very different thing altogether. There is a brilliance to it that is hard to define. Like a multi-faceted, large carat diamond, it shines at multiple levels and on multiple fronts.

First, we see the definition: God is love. When we think of the love this world offers us, it is a foreign object when compared to the love of God. God’s heart defines what a heart of love should look like. God’s actions define what active love feels and tastes like. He is the barometer by which we measure love.

When we live in this God-created and defined love, we live in God and he in us. Why does this make sense? Because the only way we can love as God loves is to have his Spirit in our hearts. It is impossible for sinful humans to love as God does on our own.

Do I want to have complete confidence of my salvation when I face God on the day of judgment? Uh, YES! Then I must be Jesus-like on this earth. People must see Jesus in my speech, Jesus in my causes, Jesus in my finances, Jesus in my calendar, Jesus in how I provide for and take care of my family, and Jesus in my actions at work and in the community. My life’s work should point them to Jesus Christ.

How do I do this? I must love well. In humility, I must be honest about my sin, transparently repent of it, and allow God’s Spirit to heal me. And when I do get to join him in his great works, he needs to get all the glory. That way, others watching me will see that I am just like them on my own. But Joe + Jesus is the love with power, or …THE POWER OF LOVE.

Another way to think of the power of love that God provides, is to think of a number representing our human effort. Take the number 9 for example. Now if you take 9 to the 2nd power, it is 81. To the third power is 729, and to the fourth power is 6,561. Imagine the love of God as a power like this, it massively multiplies our efforts for good, and the outcomes expand exponentially!

Lord, your love is a force foreign and misunderstood on this earth. Your love has incredible power to heal, save, restore, and make new! Teach me to remain in your love and enjoy the multiplied impact it has all around!