Love is the first and foremost call of every Christian, a call to share in God's unfailing love for this fallen world, but what exactly do we mean by love?
God's love is far from the world's counterfeit ideas of love. God's love seems scandalous with its call to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us. It is a love that is not of this world, a love which is far wider, longer, deeper and higher than we can imagine, a love which surpasses all knowledge. (Ephesians 3)
There is an enemy, who has many names, the Father of Lies, the Prince of this World, Satan, the Evil one, who will use everything and anything to stop us walking along the narrow way of love. If, however, we are serious in our desire to follow Christ then travel this way we must. Love, mercy and forgiveness are not optional extras in the Christian life, they are the very essence of it.
Anger, violence, hatred and a desire for revenge on enemies destroy thousands and thousands of lives every day. Some are physically destroyed or scarred, others mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Anger, hatred and revenge do not bring healing to our troubled world or individuals, they just beget more hatred and violence.