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.

Saturday Song: Depeché Mode, "People Are People"

We certainly do live in a violent world. What makes it worse is inconsequential divisions such as skin colour, religion, and place of birth. The English technopop band Depeché Mode recorded this song in 1982 and it's still relevant today.

Listen to this thought-provoking song here:

Ever since Cain killed Abel, humanity has been at war with God and itself. But we aren't the only creatures who fight one another. Revelation 12:7-9 (BBE) informs us, "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going out to the fight with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels made war, And they were overcome, and there was no more place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was forced down, the old snake, who is named the Evil One and Satan, by whom all the earth is turned from the right way; he was forced down to the earth, and his angels were forced down with him."

I know that there are different opinions on when this happened or will happen. The point is that war is a part of our fallen world. There will always be those who want to fight others as long as we humans are in charge. As Psalms 120:7 (KJV) says, "I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war."

A day will come when we will have peace but it won't come through any human agency such as the United Nations. Isaiah 9:6 (BBE)for tells of the one who will bring war to an end eternally. "For to us a child has come, to us a son is given; and the government has been placed in his hands; and he has been named Wise Guide, Strong God, Father for ever, Prince of Peace."

We read in Hebrews 2:8 and 9 (BBE) that Christ is the one who will rule humanity eternally. "You put all things under his feet.' For in making man the ruler over all things, God did not put anything outside his authority; though we do not see everything under him now. But we see him who was made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, crowned with glory and honour, because he let himself be put to death so that by the grace of God he might undergo death for all men."

What a wonderful day that will be for those who place their faith in Christ! But for those who refuse his magnanimous offer of salvation, it will be a terrifying day. May all who read this be those whom Christ will praise and then admit them to his eternal bliss.

On Monday, I'll be posting about the things we should ponder at this time of year.