the greatest

Many will choose this wedding season to have read at their ceremony the well known 1 Corinthian verses from chapter 13 which conclude “..now faith, hope and love, abide these three, but the greatest of these is love.” I can not help but think of the popular 1960’s song, “What the world needs now is love”. So true. Ours is a world where terrorists operate practically unchecked, inter-continental ballistic missiles are tested against international rules and amid threats of war, top secret information is leaked on a daily basis, wicked dictators subject their own people to abuse and sufferings, drug abuse ruins lives, infants are murdered, falsehoods are reported as fact, not even to mention the suffering caused by natural disasters. Sounds horrific! We can easily agree that the world needs more love! Let us also agree that the world has always been filled with evil, that similar abominations have existed since the beginning of time. There really is nothing new under the sun. Let us also agree that God, the Lord of all has already given us His love, the greatest expression of love one could ever know. God gave us His only begotten Son, Jesus as the sacrifice for our sin. Therefore, what the world needs now, it has already been given. What the world needs now for its citizens to embrace God’s love, submit to His Son, and live life faithfully following the loving Shepherd. Evil might seem to dominate this world, but it is God Almighty, the only God, Yahweh, who is always in absolute, sovereign control. David prayed at the beginning of the temple construction, “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. “Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. “Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.” Brethren, as you read the headlines, do not loose hope, be strengthened in your faith and continue to serve as Paul told the Thessalonians, in your “labor of love”. The world could never receive nor experience greater love than what was expressed on the cross of Christ. It is our desire and our burden that all mankind would hear the gospel and receive Him, so as to be counted among the “brethren beloved by God” and chosen to be “rescued from the wrath to come” Therefore, abide in His greatest.
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