OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL-SATURDAY-27/02/2016-LOVE,
THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW I -BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
Memorise
These things I command you, that ye
love one another.
John 15:17
Read
1st Corinthians 13:1-3
1 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.
KJV
MESSAGE
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.
Bible in one
year
John 1:1-3:15, Job 29:21-30:8
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