"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works."
Hebrews 10:24

This is one of the verses of last week as we looked into the 'let us'
verses. The Bible is all about Almighty God's (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) love for man. In the past we have looked at love from different aspects, today lets look at Scripture as it concerns loves preeminence and its test.

As for the preeminence of love we see that-- Love is the greatest commandment:
Jesus speaking,
"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment."
"And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
Mark 12:30-31

Love is the fulfillment of the law:
"Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Romans 13:10

Paul tells us in Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians:
Love is above tongues:
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal." Vs. 1

Love is above prophecy, knowledge and faith:
"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." Vs. 2

Love is above benevolence and martyrdom:
"And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." Vs. 3

Love is the greatest gift of all:
"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." Vs. 13

Love is preeminent and above all for God Himself, who is above all, is love as 1 John 4:8 so clearly states, "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." !!!!
And, Christ is the perfect expression of God's love. Just look at the Cross!
There is love personified in Jesus Christ.

Scripture tells us love is the test--
Of true discipleship:
"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35

Of genuine service:
Jesus speaking to Peter,
"He said to him again a second time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?'
He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Tend My sheep.'" John 21:16

It demonstrates the reality of the new life:
"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death." 1 John 3:14

Love to God is proven by brotherly love:
"If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love is brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen." 1 John 4:20

Holy God, we do love you. Open our eyes, our hearts and our understanding of this great love that we may love You more perfectly. Help us in expressing this love to all here on earth. Be glorified Lord in and through Your people. Amen