The Bible is first and foremost a love story. God loved creation. He blessed the first marriage in history. He was more than a match maker; He was the match creator! He also blessed the bonds of friendship, and recognized Abraham as His friend. When Jesus wept over Lazarus, the Jews saw the Lord’s deep love for His friend. In his letters John the apostle instructs us about love, not that we loved God, but God loved us and sent Jesus to be our atonement (1 John 4:10). The love story continues through the closing of the book of Revelation as the Spirit and the Bride invite all to take the water of life.
With the theme of love running as a continuous thread from cover to cover in the world’s all time number one best seller, it should come as no surprise that Jesus performed his first recorded miracle at the wedding in Cana. It was a celebration of love. We never learn who was being married, nor does it matter. God is love. God blesses us in love, and God blesses us through love.
O Perfect Love was written as a wedding hymn by Dorothy B. Gurney especially to fit her sister’s favorite hymn tune. A short time later the words came to the attention of the royal family. It was sung in the 1889 royal wedding of Princess Louise and the Duke of Fife, using a tune specially commissioned for the occasion.
Pray these words of love as you continue your pilgrim journey.
O perfect Love, all human thought transcending,
lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne,
that theirs may be the love which knows no ending,
whom thou forevermore dost join in one.
Perfect love certainly does transcend human thought, and it is God’s perfect, transcendent love that we seek on our journey. Know that God loves you perfectly. Seek to love Him perfectly, and to be a reflection of God’s perfect love for everyone you see today.
Follow the Path!
CARadke
[Use with Celebration of Love, day 39 of A Labyrinth Pilgrimage]