Pastoral - Open Letter: "Love Trumps All"

Dear Providence,

It is such an honor that Sandy and I get to write this blog to all of you. I am also overjoyed because this setting of scripture has such a special place in my heart. Indeed, reading 1Corinthians 13 proved to be one of the most pivotal moments in my life.

At a time when I was deployed to Afghanistan and suffering from extreme depression, I overheard a conversation where someone said, "and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1Cor.13:13, NIV)

Keep in mind that I was in a situation where I had absolutely no faith, no hope, and no love. I didn't even have a bible, but the Lord had grace on me as I used Google. After reading that chapter I felt a burning inside me to answer the question, "does God love me?"

I was overwhelmed as I discovered not only does God love me, but that he proved his love by sending Jesus to die for me. This is the greatest exhibition of love to have ever been displayed, "greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."(John15:13)

The Cross shows us the severity of God's love.

And so, I charge you Providence, do not take love lightly. Love is not simply a feeling we have towards good food or movies. God is the embodiment of love, and love is the very nature of what it means to be Christian.

“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."(1 John 4:8)

I, Sandy, am so humbled to be able to write to you all! Right off the bat, I knew what chapter I wanted to write on from 1 Corinthians. One of my all-time favorite scriptures is: 

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV)

Firstly, I want to say "Thank you Providence!" for loving Sandra and I so well! Personally, I can say I’ve experienced love in many, many ways here at Providence, and I have seen the way you all love others. When I first arrived here, it was strange and I was definitely stepping out of my comfort zone by meeting new people. I didn't know what to expect or how to respond, because I never experienced genuine community like this before.

However, nothing compares to the night where I became fully transparent about battling with alcoholism with my home group. Instead of feeling judged or ashamed, I remember people speaking life into me. After that, so many hands were laid on me to pray. I still remember those hands, those faces, those words spoken. That night, I truly experienced love from the church, I felt God assuring me that He loves me so much more, and that I'm not alone. That He sent me to this church for a reason, and that there was no shame or condemnation in this very moment. I experienced that through the love of every single person in that room as I sat on the floor and poured my heart out. What else can love do? It can set you free from sin.

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." (1 Peter 4:8 - 10 ESV)

If that's not a sign of how powerful love can be, I don't know what else is. 

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13, “Love never ends.” I’m reminded of that in my testimony because it not only changed who I am, but will have a positive impact on the life of my daughter. Beyond that, it has given me a tangible example of how to love others through their own trials and tribulations. My hope is that we continue to spread the love of God to others. Especially those who have not experienced the magnificent love of Christ. 

If you do not yet fully understand God's love, but you are reading this, our prayer is that you put to rest any reservation or doubt, and open your heart to God's love. That you realize it is not an accident you have stepped foot in Providence, or that you are reading these very words right now. Whatever you may be going through does have a purpose, and we as a church, desire for you to experience the love of God because it is a satisfying and unconditional love that this world and the people in it, just simply cannot provide. 

While deciding what to write about "love", this scripture was impressed on my heart. I think it serves as a great reminder and a refocus for our hearts. It reminds me to not only love others, but how much God loves me! So much that He showed the greatest act of love by sacrificing his only Son.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

I don't write about loving people because I do it perfectly or without grumbling like 1 Peter 4 mentioned. I am writing today because I know it is one of the greatest commandments (Matthew 22:39). May we pray for humble hearts that will repent of our prideful nature, and choose to put others above ourselves to love them more genuinely. 

And we would like to close with our benediction:

Providence, now go and show the love of Christ that has been shown to you. Love God. Love people. 

Love,

Scott Mahan & Sandy Yanes