Saturday Song: depeché Mode, The Meaning of Love, live.txt

This British synthesizer band had a number of hits in the early nineteen eighties. Though they weren't popular in North America, they were huge in the UK.

This song didn't define the meaning of love but it's a perky number none the less. Listen to it here:

People have a variety of ideas of what love is but here's what the Bible has to say about it. When Jesus was giving his disciples their final instructions before he was arrested, he said this to them in John 15:13 and 14  (BBE). "Greater love has no man than this, that a man gives up his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I give you orders to do."

Love is also others-centred. The Ten Commandments were filled with mostly negatives. But Christ turned those into positive actions. As Paul noted in Romans 13:8 and 9 (BBE), 8 "Be in debt for nothing, but to have love for one another: for he who has love for his neighbour has kept all the law. And this, 'Do not be untrue in married life, Do not put to death, Do not take what is another's, Do not have desire for what is another's,' and if there is any other order, it is covered by this word, 'Have love for your neighbour as for yourself.'"

Furthermore, Christian love extends even to those who hate us. Matthew 5:43 and 44 (BBE)  teaches us, "You have knowledge that it was said, Have love for your neighbour, and hate for him who is against you: But I say to you, Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you;"

And lest you think this is only a New Testament command, Leviticus 19:18 (BBE)admonishes, "Do not make attempts to get equal with one who has done you wrong, or keep hard feelings against the children of your people, but have love for your neighbour as for yourself: I am the Lord."

On Monday, I hope to post on the subject of who Christ meant by his little ones.