For centuries people chewed on the bark of Willow Trees to relieve pain.

As we entered the modern period, some people wanted to find out why. Did it have something to do with chewing on the rough bark itself? Or did it have something to do with the orange-ish resin?

They did some tests. Nope. Not the bark or resin.

Eventually they were able to find and isolate the key active pain-relieving ingredient. Our modern Aspirin-type pills are the result.

When it comes to faith, it’s easy to get confused about what the key ingredient is (and what it isn’t).

It’s easy to think the most important thing is a specific moral issue that some politicians like to go on and on about. But no, that’s not it. That’s like the bark.

It’s easy to think the most important thing is a specific denomination, or even a certain worship style. But no, that’s not it either. That’s like the orange-ish resin.

When it comes to how we act as followers of Jesus, 1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

So when it comes to how we act as followers of Jesus, the key ingredient is love. If you take that away, you end up with a weird orange taste in your mouth and sore gums. (Kind of. You know what I mean.)

I know you feel bamboozled some days. Or criticized. Or distracted.

But don’t let go of love. It’s the key ingredient.

Without love, your soul is sick. With love, your soul sings.

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

By Matthew Ruttan