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Missions Evangelism Inspiration

Summary

Paul closes out the “Love Chapter” with this very familiar verse. “And now abide faith, hope, and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love!” Faith is important. It is the foundation of our relationship with Jesus. Hope is also important. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. But the Bible says that the greatest of these is LOVE. The Great Commandment tells us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind. So why is love the greatest? I believe love is the greatest because Love Involves Obedience. Jesus says, “if you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Love is not an option. Jesus commands us to love one another as He has loved us. Failure to love is direct disobedience to God. Failure to love one another grieves the heart of God. I truly believe many modern day churches break the heart of God because they are so divided. If we are calling Jesus Lord then we must live under His Lordship. And living under His Lordship involves obedience to His Word. Love Involves Obedience! Love is the greatest because Love Indicates Ownership. Jesus said by this all men will know you are My disciples, by your love one for another. He did not say by your great preaching, by your great teaching, or by doing signs and wonders. He said BY YOUR LOVE ONE FOR ANOTHER. Love is not based upon performance. Love is based on the person of Jesus Christ. He loved us while we were sinners. We are to love others as Jesus loves us. I John 3:10 says, “Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, not is he who does not love his brother.” I John 4:8 says, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” If we claim to know God, then we must love one another. Love Indicates Ownership! Love could be considered the greatest because Love Inspires Oneness. Oneness is wholeness, harmony, sameness, and union. God desires us to be one. We have one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. Jesus prayed to the Father that we may all be one in Him. In doing so the world would believe that Jesus was sent by God, and that God loved the world just like He did His Son. Truly the old song says it best. “We are one in the bond of love. We have joined our spirits with the Spirit of God, and we are one in the bond of love.” Love Inspires Oneness! My prayer is that we would all abide in faith, hope,and love. May we always remember that the greatest of these is love. How great is your love for Him? How great is your love for your brothers and sisters in Christ? Please do not grieve the heart of God by a lack of the greatest of these – LOVE!