The Power of Love; Song of Solomon 7-8, Proverbs 13

May the mumbling commence!

Huey Lewis and the News, one of my favorite rock groups, did a song for the movie Back to the Future.  The song was called “The Power of Love”.  The recurring refrain is “That’s the power of love…  Can you feel it?”  Read about the power of love from Song of Solomon chapter eight:

Set me as a seal upon your heart,

As a seal upon your arm;

For love is as strong as death,

Jealousy as cruel as the grave;

Its flames are flames of fire,

A most vehement flame. 

Many waters cannot quench love,

Nor can the floods drown it.

If a man would give for love

All the wealth of his house,

It would be utterly despised. (Verses 6-7)

Now, here’s a riddle for you:  It seals a broken heart and mends a broken arm.  It is stronger than death and harbors jealousy as cruel as the grave.  It has a flame brighter and stronger and more vehement than any other flame?  Waters cannot quench it.  Floods cannot drown it.  It despises all wealth and wooing.

That’s the power of love.  We better not underestimate what love can do – ever.  We better bring truth to love or love will find us out.  Love has an awesome memory, and jealousy that love serves is a cold and cruel dish.

Can’t buy me love, indeed!  The Beatles must have been familiar with the Song of Solomon.  It shows in their song “Can’t Buy Me Love”.  Yes, we can be rich in the eyes of the world and have nothing in the eyes of the Lord.  Read from Proverbs chapter thirteen:

There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;

And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches. (Verse 7)

Love is available to all – both the wealthy and the destitute.  But each person must accept that love.  Each person must make the choice and accept love and extend that love in return.  Yes, we are called to love the Lord in return of His love of us.  And that return includes loving the people around us.

To love is to accept challenge.  Sometimes there will appear to be victory, sometimes defeat.  Choosing to love is the most challenging and opportunity filled choice of our lives…  But to love God and our neighbors and ourselves is our call.

Let us work together to embrace the fullness of Christ’s love for us – embrace the truth and mercy and grace and judgment and righteousness of the love of God.  My Grandpa Wilson used to have a bumper sticker on his car.  It said, “Jesus loves you, and I’m trying.”

That says it well.  Let’s receive that love of God and try to be channels of that love and the peace that it brings.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out