This is the greatest commandment
If anyone turned on the television today they couldn’t help but see parts of the Royal wedding, as it was broadcast on every channel. The massive undertaking that size of wedding would be daunting to anyone but an army of people who are trained to put an event like that on. No detail was overlooked or taken for granted. The beauty of the old cathedral was breathtaking and inspiring. But not as much as the theme of the sermon given by Bishop Michael Curry. Simply put it was love one another. He made a quote by Martin Luther King, who stated: love is the most important thing in life. Dr. King’s message was if we could harness the power of love it would be a kin to discovering the power of fire. But my favorite quotes by Bishop Curry was one from song Solomon, set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is as strong as death. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drowned it.
I Corinthians chapter 13, is known as the love chapter in the Bible. While the chapter uses the word charity, the meaning of the word charity is love: though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling symbol. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing. Love suffers long, and is kind; love envious not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seek get not her own, is not easily provoked, think if no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Barrett all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood his child, I thought as a child: when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abided faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
That just about says it all, while Bishop Curry waxed poetic at the wedding, the Bible laid it out clear and plain 2000 years ago. The greatest commandment is to love one another. Martin Luther King also made another statement: love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend. And Jesus said it this way: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
No greater love, and the Bible tells us: for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. He laid down his life for us because there is no greater love than the love God has for each one of us. God told us the greatest commandment is love and if you break down each of the definitions of love in the 13th chapter of I Corinthians you understand that love conquers all.
As parents we need to teach our children the meaning of love. Not the kind of love you have toward pizza, but the love you have for the Lord your God. The fact that parents love their children goes without saying, but needs to be said daily. And you can’t just say I love you, you have to show them, with hugs and kisses and discipline. The true meaning of love is a difficult lesson to teach, unless we live it.
We as authors spout poetic all kinds of love scenes and scenarios in our writings. But our writings are based on emotion between two people instead of a sublime habit. Love is easy when times are good, and often love get shaky when times are bad. But true love is a choice, not always easy, but always perseveres.
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
Song of Solomon 8:6-7
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
I John 4:18
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Matthew 25:6
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
I Corinthians 13:13
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:15
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16