During February as we consider Black History and the contributions made to our society by people of color, I am reminded of a refrain from a song of years ago: “What the World Needs Now is Love, Sweet Love”.
Hear what Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:37 – 40: “Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and prophets”. Doctrinally, we understand the concept of vertical and horizontal love, however, add to the mix, love in action, as presented by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13. What if in 2015 all our personal interactions were motivated or directed by love? Ministry gifts are good, but only if ministered in love. With our economy in such dire straits, benevolence is good, but not apart from love.
Consider the Apostle’s description of love. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love is greater than faith and hope. Love of God and love for fellow-man. The driving force in times past and it is obvious to this Pastor that LOVE is just what the world needs now.
Be blessed as you walk in love.
Pastor J. Amos Jones
