Giant, It's Time for You to Come Down!ਨਮੂਨਾ

Day 4: The Secret Weapon — Love

Many years ago, this godly man was called to preach to the dangerous gangs in New York City, and while he was obeying that call, he encountered a young man named Nikki Cruz. One day, this godly man walked up to a group of Nikki and some other boys, and he started telling them that God loved them and that Jesus died for them.

Well, Nikki did not appreciate that. He told the godly man, “If you say that Jesus loves me one more time, I’m going to cut you into pieces.”

The godly man stayed very calm, and he said, “Nikki, if you cut me into pieces, every piece of me will say the same thing: God loves you, and I love you.”

Well, Nikki Cruz couldn't take that kind of love. It melted his heart, and he gave his life to Jesus and became a powerful evangelist!

What I want you to see in this story is what won Nikki Cruz to the Lord. What delivered him? Was it somebody coming up and telling him how wrong he was or that he was going to hell? No. Those things might have been true, but it was the love of God that was pouring out of this godly man that really saved him, because nothing can stand against the unbeatable weapon of love.

Wielding the Unbeatable Weapon

The Bible says that love never fails. It is a weapon that can conquer any enemy, any hostility, just like it did for the godly man preaching to Nikki Cruz. You might be thinking, “Love? A weapon? That can’t be right,” but let me tell you that it is, and I want to show you how we wield it, because it’s not like other weapons.

The Proverbs tell us that a gentle tongue breaks a bone and that a soft answer turns away wrath. Think about that for a moment. So many times, we think of weapons that are forceful. They are sharp or loud or heavy, but the Bible says a gentle tongue holds enough power to break a bone. Gentleness and patience will change someone’s mind, a tongue that’s filled with kindness, not criticism or revenge. A soft answer makes anger bow. Wrath has to take a second place to a soft answer.

Well, when someone comes at you with harsh words and wrath, and you speak soft words back instead of criticism, hate, or defensiveness, where does that softness and patience come from? That comes from a strong position of love.

Do you see this weapon? It’s not a weapon of violence. It doesn’t cut down our enemies or injure them, but it builds them up. That's so opposite to the world, but it never fails! No enemy can withstand it! This is the weapon that you and I have. Friend, no foe can stand up against the power of love. It will defeat fear, hate, betrayal, denial, disappointment, and any other giants that the enemy tries to raise up in our way.

Questions to Discuss:

1. Do you usually think of love as your secret weapon against the enemy? If not, what things are preventing you from using it as such?
2. Are there areas in your life where the love of God isn’t shining through you? How can you change your attitudes in these areas?
3. What is something you can do right now to show someone love?