Love transforms hearts! – Sis. Stella Dhinakaran

“And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” (Ephesians 5:2)
God loved us so much that He sent His son Jesus to the world to save us and, Jesus loved us so much that He offered Himself as a sacrifice and a sweet-smelling aroma to God. We cannot describe the way His body was wounded and bruised! And, there is only one reason for all the agony and pain He underwent. That is, we should be cleansed from our trespasses, transgressions and curses and we should rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4). “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” (1 John 4:8-12).

There was a servant of God named Pastor. J.F. Rolands who went to Africa to do His ministry. There, he was able to make many villagers accept God as their Redeemer. The headman of a particular village being jealous, planned to kill him. He asked the missionary to come to his house one day. Many friends of the missionary warned and persuaded him not to go to his house. But, he was adamant to go, saying, “The Lord who redeemed me and filled me with His love, may save him also”. So, on the next day, early in the morning, he went to the house of the village headman. The headman of the village, who was drunk all through the night, came and opened the door. At that time, he had not even washed his mouth. Taken aback seeing the missionary at the door early in the morning, he invited him inside and gave him a banana to eat.

The missionary took the fruit, peeled it and stretched it towards him asking him to eat. This was a shock to him. He tried to avoid the fruit saying, “ No! No! I have not even washed my mouth! You eat, please!” But, the missionary said, “It does not matter! Please, eat first and I will eat afterwards” and without waiting for his answer, he pushed it into his mouth. After, he ate the first half; the missionary ate the remaining piece with delight. This divine act of love melted the stony heart of the village headman. He broke down and wept. He said, “Oh! How can I imagine killing a man who is a personification of love?” Then, the missionary, told him about the true love of God and His sacrifice on the cross. The man who wanted to murder him became a messenger of love and gave his heart to God. This is how love transforms hearts. Allow God’s love to transform your heart and let your love transform the hearts of other people.

Prayer:
Loving Lord,

From today onwards, give me the grace to taste and enjoy your inestimable and divine love and help me to tell this truth to others so that they too can come closer to You. Your love satisfies me and makes me feel loved. Let me share this love with others through the way I speak and act so that hearts are touched and transformed for Your glory. Thank You for Your great love. Help me to be worthy of Your love by the way I live.

In Jesus loving name I pray,

AMEN.