Love Washes Over a Multitude of Things

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

Have you ever wondered what your purpose was? Or what your calling was as a follower of Jesus? I've been there. I remember my college nights filled with existential angst and soul-searching anguish as I tried to discern the will of God for my life. Long walks under a North Carolina moon brimming with questions. Where did God want me to go? To do? To be?

Paul says something interesting in Romans 13. He writes that love is the fulfillment of the law. He tells us that all of the commandments are summed up by this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Why? Because love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore it is the fulfillment of the law. Jesus said the same thing to the disciples: "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I love you, you love one another."

I think I would go as far as to say that Love is the theme of the Bible. The love of God is its thesis and its point. That might be simplifying it a little, but I don't think it's too inaccurate. Paul writes to the Colossians that they should "put on love--the perfect bond of unity" and Peter said that love washes over a multitude of wrongs.

How does this work practically? It means that, as a husband, if I go through the motions of taking care of my wife and providing for my family, but do it without love, I'm just like a clanging cymbal. It means that if I do good things and give lots of money away, but do not love, I haven't gained anything. It means that if I serve in my church, but do it out of duty and begrudgingly with my heart filled with the bitterness of complaint, my service is like a cacophony of meaningless noise.

So, the question remains: where do we find this love? It sounds a little far-fetched. A pipe dream. Maybe a tad unrealistic. Honestly, it sounds downright difficult. Where does this kind of love come from? Paul answers by writing a beautiful and freeing truth: "God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." This love comes through the Holy Spirit into our hearts. Or, as one of my all-time favorite bands once sang, "They say that it [love] runs in His Blood."

What is my calling? Love. What is my purpose? Love. What does God want me to do? Love others. What am I to be? Love poured out. Poured out like water. Love demonstrated. Love given freely. This kind of love affects everything. It's my calling and it's our purpose--our reason for being.