The greatest commandment – love

Published 1:33 pm Tuesday, August 11, 2009

The musical group The Black Eyed Peas sings a song that asks an important question to us all.

In it, the song says:

“People killin’, people dyin’

Children hurt and you hear them cryin.’

Can you practice what you preach

And would you turn the other cheek

Father, father, father help us

Send some guidance from above

‘Cause people got me, got me questionin’

Where is the love (Love) …”

In this fallen world, we can definitely see the detrimental effects that the sins of hatred, racism and murder has on our society. Not only has our world become infiltrated with these destructive actions, we are devoid of an understanding of pure, heartfelt, concern for humanity.

So, with such a state of hopelessness facing the church and the world, how do we bring about a revolution of change?

The answer is LOVE!

Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love God with everything you have and the second greatest commandment was to love others just as you love yourself.

In other words, when you love God, it brings love for those who were created in His image.

Then, the true power of loving others comes out in the form of caring for the oppressed and the poor, negotiating instead of fighting and loving enough to break the walls of racism.

Paul defines love in 1 Corinthians 13 by describing its many positive attributes. The one thing he says that speaks to where we are today is the phrase, “Love never fails.”

It is that kind of love that mends the brokenness of a child that was abused. It is that kind of love that brings the walls of hatred down.

It is that kind of “unfailing love” that drove Jesus to the cross and created the bridge to the heart of God.

It is that kind of love that brings about the hope and change this world needs. With that truth in mind, make the change today … choose to love.

Justin Hill is the pastor at Fellowship of Faith Church in Columbiana. He can be reached at pastorj.hill@yahoo.com.