The first time I heard the song was on a Sunday morning at the beginning of a gospel meeting.  The man leading the singing was our pulpit minister. He had a background in music. Before he became a missionary and preacher of the gospel he was a band director. His big booming bass voice was one that you loved to hear as it encouraged you to sing with greater thought and desire.

There he stood, the congregation waiting for his que, hands lifted he began with the down beat. The Altos began singing, everyone knew their parts, “Love one another for love is of God, he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not not love does not know God for God is love.” This first line in the song “The Greatest Commands” comes in part from 1 John 4:8. What a great song with a message of hope. Not a hope covered in doubt but one of assurance. “FOR GOD IS LOVE!” As Christians we can absolutely know this and be assured of the eternal love God as for not only His own but for the lost of the world as well. He sent His son into this world to seek and save the lost, of which we all were at some point in our lives.

The song continues, the bass come in next with “Love bears all things, believes all things, Love hopes all things, endures all things. Taken from 1 Corinthians 13:7 the apostle Paul is explaining to all the Christians of all times that special gifts don’t matter, that verbose speaking, that gifted with natural leadership, or a voice like a song bird, does not matter if you do not have love. Love is the supreme through out God’s word. It is what convicts His own special people. Everyone knows and can quote John 3:16 but do we understand the context of the scripture. It is a conversation Jesus is having with Nicodemus, who was one of the teachers of Israel, a Pharisee. Nicodemus rightly affirmed before him, calling him teacher, stating factually that he must be a teacher sent from God because of the great and marvelous things he had done and said. What Nicodemus could not comprehend, “being born again,” Jesus used this opportunity to teach the wonderful plan of salvation culminating in the act of love brought down to man. John 3:14-17 – 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; 15 that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.  17 For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him.”

The tenors come in singing “God is love, God is love, God is love!” over and over through out the song. Again 1 John 4:8b. By now we have three parts singing to the Lord in worship the greatest command. By the time the Sopranos come in on this Lord’s day, I am in tears. My tears are that of joy and gratefulness because of The Great God and what He has done for me. My salvation by the grace of God needs to be personal, I must always understand my inability to overcome the mighty army of Satan on my own. I never walk alone when I am in a correct relationship with God. (Romans 8:37-39) When the words of the song in the last stanza start you cannot  help but be drawn closer to the Lord because of His love. This final stanza, a curtain call if you will, is not mere suggestion, but a command for those that obeyed the call of our Lord and Savior.

“Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, for God is love.”

This is taken from Luke 10:27 –  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. 

Notice that scripture takes this further. The scripture tells us to also love our neighbor as thyself. In this season, many are drawn to the Master that otherwise might not be. As Christians, as ambassadors of the gospel, we should use this time of the year to help bring those lost to a greater understanding of the saving gospel. Yes it is our command to do this everyday that we live, but we have a unique opportunity during the holiday season as more people are focused on Jesus than perhaps any other time.

My encouragement, my plea, is that we all make an effort to fully understand “The Greatest Commands.” Let us love liberally, care deeply, pray constantly for humankind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-yo2Y5iGqU

Artist: The Harding University Concert Choir – enjoy