An indescribable love

I was reading over here this morning (and here ), and I was reminded of the greatest commandment, as recorded in Mark 12:29, 30. Jesus’ words are a restatement, and, perhaps, an amplification, of what we read in Deuteronomy 6. This command also sheds a great light on First Corinthians 13. Generally, it seems, I have heard the chapter in First Corinthians in the light of our love for others. Often, in fact, I have seen this used as part of the marriage ceremony. Indeed, I have preached it myself on such occasions. But, I think, it becomes even more precious as a summation, or rather, a verbal example, of how we are to love God.

What strikes me is that we must be commanded to love God. Why is this so? Because it is not in our flesh to do so. Oh, we are quick to enjoin a certain mode of dress, a practice of certain habits, and so on. But as can be noted in the comparison of Jesus to the Pharisees, these can all be done in the spirit of obligation, and in the spirit of duty alone.

Yet, duty alone is not that to which we are called. Interestingly, the greatest command is not to obey the Lord our God with all of our heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. Rather, we are commanded to love the Lord our God… The word love, in this instance, is to delight in, to adore, the object of our affections. In such delight, obedience to His desire comes as a product, by His grace.

I say this love is an indescribable love, for as C.S. Lewis writes in the first book of his Narnia series, it is indescribable to one who has chosen not to hear the voice of the Beloved. Uncle Andrew could only perceive the sounds from Aslan as mere roaring, rather than gentle words. And for those who delight in the Possessor of Heaven and Earth, no mere words can adequately describe our love for Him.