Love is not weak
February series on love
Love is not Weak
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 16:13
Paul has a lot to say in 1 Corinthians about love. That isn’t by accident. We often imagine love to be weak and vacillating, always softening the blow, never landing the punch in a way that hurts. But reading 1 Corinthians is like being in the ring with Joe Frazier. The blows come hard and fast. Multiple body jabs are followed by the occasional uppercut to the chin. And every strike is inflicted with love.
In 16:13 Paul exhorts “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong…” Those are not words describing a weak, flabby, squishy kind of spirituality. The verse concludes with this sentence: “Let all that you do be done in love.” That isn’t a contradiction. Act like a man. Be strong. And to it all in love.
There is no question that you can act like a man without love. You can be strong and strongly hateful. But strength and manliness are not opposed to love. Love can be strong and manly. Frankly, this is what is needed today. Men who act like men – godly men – men who love while still being men.
Pray for those kinds of men. Be that kind of man.