LOVE,
THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW
Memorise:
These things I command you, that ye love one another.
John
15:17
Read: 1st Corinthians
13:1-3, 13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and
have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 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 charity, I am
nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to
feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it
profiteth me nothing.
Bible in
one year: John 1:1-3:15, Job 29:21-30:8
The Bible
takes the subject of love so seriously that love is equated to the sum total of
all the commandments of God. The Bible goes further to say that love is the
fulfilment of the law. The use of the word ‘law’ in the New Testament sense, is
usually a reference to all the commandments and statutes recorded in the Old
Testament and specifically those in the first five books of the Bible known as
the books of Moses (Pentateuch). Now, the reality that God equates love to the
whole of the Old Testament commandments is a serious food for thought. The
Bible in 1st Corinthians 13:1-2 says
“Though
I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am
become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 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 charity, I am nothing.”
The above
passage speaks clearly about the importance of love and how children of God
should view or rate love on the scale of spirituality. Here, God compared some
special spiritual gifts of uncommon value to love. Speaking in the tongues of
men and angles seems to mean the ability to speak in heavenly tongues and at
the same time interpret it in the language of men. This has always been a very
rare gift which is highly sought after in the body of Christ, yet, anyone with
this rare gift but without love, is described as a sounding brass or a tinkling
cymbal. In essence, such is viewed by God as a mere noise-maker. Furthermore,
the Bible says if one should have the gift of prophecy, understand all
mysteries and have all knowledge, even if the person should have enough faith
to do great miracles, without love, such a person amounts to nothing in the
eyes of God. This simply means that love is the golden rule by which whatever
gifts we exhibit and whatever services we offer to God are measured. Therefore,
love is the ultimate commandment. Romans 13:10 says:
“Love
worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
As I always
ask my children, do you truly love God? What price have you paid as proof of
that love? If you love what you do, it will be easy to do it with all your
heart. Love is missing in our fellowship with God today. All you get from some
is lip service. This is professing love without backing it up with physical
evidence. Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to
the Lord, and not unto men”. Your service to God must come from your heart,
borne out of love. The service that pleases God is one from the heart rendered
in love, as God is love. If you are born again, you have the capacity to
manifest agape love. To what extent does this love manifest itself in your life
and service? Do you know that faith requires the oil of love to operate
effectively? (Galatians 5:6). Add love to your faith and you begin to bask in
the glory of God, because He will equally respond out of greater love and your
life will never be the same again.
Prayer
Point
Father,
help me to love You with all my heart in Jesus’ name.
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