By Roderick Anderson

Love is the most powerful force on the earth. It can cause a young man or young woman to travel hundreds of miles just to spend time together. It can cause a mother or father to sacrifice their needs to meet their children’s needs. Love can cause adult children to rearrange their lives to take care of their elderly parents. Love is an action, not a feeling. It is wonderfully amazing because, contrary to human nature, it gives.

The Bible states in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Jesus robed himself in flesh to redeem mankind. He came to a world hopelessly lost, directionless, in the depths of sin, wounded, and hurting. People were worshiping gods that could not hear, see, speak, feel nor sense the needs of lost humanity. He came to show how much He loved mankind in order that He might establish a relationship with lost mankind.

Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross was to redeem fallen man. He was buried and rose again for our salvation. He sent us the Holy Ghost after He ascended back to heaven. Christians are born again people, made in his image. When we receive the Holy Ghost, the love of God is “shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:5). With this amazing love we can  reach out to this lost world; that is God’s mission for his church. The Church has been granted the privilege of displaying the very essence of God through the new birth experience (Acts 2:38). This love is an activating force; the Church must go as Jesus went, give as Jesus gave and show kindness the way Jesus did.

Evangelism should be the heartbeat of the church. Reaching our lost world will require sacrifice: We must leave our “comfort zones” if we are to realize the spiritual needs of others. Love will take us to the “not-so-glamorous” residential areas, to poverty stricken areas and/or to high crime areas with the message of salvation. We give of our time and our treasure to help those who are less fortunate and need a helping hand. We always show kindness to those in need by comforting and encouraging those who are troubled and discouraged (Luke 4:18-19).

Human love in action was defined when Jesus gave himself for us (Romans 5:6-8). We can do no less; we must give ourselves to him and commit to walking in his will and purpose (Luke 19:10).