Blessing Ogundulu
Love is a force that binds us all together, no matter who we are or where we come from. It’s a simple yet powerful idea that echoes through the teachings of many religions and philosophies.
One of the most well-known teachings about love comes from Christianity, known as the Greatest Commandment. This commandment boils down to two things: loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbour as yourself.
But what does it mean to love God and love others? It’s more than just a feeling; it’s about how we treat people and the choices we make every day.
In the world of hymns, there are many songs that explore this idea of love and the Greatest Commandment. These hymns are like musical prayers that help us understand and live out this important teaching in our lives.
So, let’s take a journey through these hymns together. We’ll explore 20 songs that capture the essence of the Greatest Commandment and inspire us to love God and love others in everything we do. Get ready to sing along and let the message of love fill your heart and soul!
Hymns About the Greatest Commandment
1. “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” – Charles Wesley
This timeless hymn by Charles Wesley beautifully extols the transformative power of divine love. It calls upon God to fill our hearts with His love, enabling us to excel in love beyond human limitations. Wesley’s words remind us that true love, originating from the divine source, has the capacity to transcend all other forms of love, enriching and transforming every aspect of our lives.
2. “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go” – George Matheson
George Matheson’s poignant hymn reflects on the steadfastness of God’s love, a love that never lets go even in the midst of life’s trials and uncertainties. Through tender and emotive lyrics, Matheson captures the profound assurance of being held securely in the embrace of divine love, inspiring trust and surrender to the unfailing love that guides and sustains us.
3. “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” – John Fawcett
John Fawcett’s hymn celebrates the bond of Christian fellowship forged through love. It acknowledges the deep connection that unites believers as one family in Christ, bound together by the ties of love and mutual support. Fawcett’s words resonate with the spirit of unity and community fostered by the Greatest Commandment, emphasizing the importance of love in building and nurturing relationships within the body of Christ.
4. “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” – Peter Scholtes
This modern hymn by Peter Scholtes echoes the sentiment expressed in John 13:35, where Jesus declares that the world will recognize His disciples by their love for one another. With its simple yet profound message, the hymn emphasizes the transformative power of love in bearing witness to Christ’s teachings and embodying His love in action, thereby drawing others to the faith through the compelling testimony of love.
5. “Where Charity and Love Prevail” – Omer Westendorf
Omer Westendorf’s hymn beautifully encapsulates the essence of the Greatest Commandment by exalting the virtues of charity and love. It paints a vivid picture of a community united in love, where selfless service and compassion reign supreme. Through its uplifting melody and poetic lyrics, the hymn inspires believers to cultivate a spirit of genuine love and generosity, reflecting the divine love that permeates all creation.
6. “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” – Sebastian Temple
“Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” by Sebastian Temple is a heartfelt prayer for divine guidance in spreading love and peace to others. It echoes the sentiment of the Greatest Commandment by imploring God to use the singer as an instrument of His love and reconciliation in a world often marred by division and conflict. Through its stirring melody and earnest plea, the hymn inspires believers to actively seek opportunities to embody the love and compassion of Christ in their interactions with others.
7. “A New Commandment I Give Unto You” – Unknown
This hymn, inspired by Jesus’ words in John 13:34, beautifully captures the essence of the Greatest Commandment. It serves as a reminder of Christ’s call to love one another as He has loved us, emphasizing the revolutionary nature of this commandment in transforming lives and relationships. With its simple yet profound lyrics, the hymn invites believers to embrace the radical love exemplified by Christ and to extend that love to others without reservation or condition.
8. “Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service” – Albert F. Bayly
Albert F. Bayly’s hymn reflects on the selfless love modeled by Christ during His earthly ministry. It celebrates the humility and compassion with which Jesus served others, challenging believers to follow His example by embodying a spirit of sacrificial love and service in their own lives. Through its poignant lyrics and stirring melody, the hymn inspires a renewed commitment to live out the Greatest Commandment by humbly serving others with love and compassion.
9. “Love Is His Word” – Unknown
“Love Is His Word” is a hymn that celebrates the centrality of love in the teachings of Christ. Its uplifting melody and affirming lyrics underscore the transformative power of love in bringing healing, reconciliation, and redemption to a broken world. Through its joyful proclamation of love as the defining characteristic of Christ’s message, the hymn invites believers to embrace and embody the love that lies at the heart of the Greatest Commandment, thereby bearing witness to the transformative power of God’s love in their lives and communities.
10. “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ” – Fred Kaan
Fred Kaan’s hymn calls believers to use their talents and abilities to spread love and compassion to others. It emphasizes the importance of actively living out the Greatest Commandment by using the gifts God has given us for the benefit of others and the advancement of His kingdom. With its stirring melody and empowering lyrics, the hymn inspires believers to be agents of love and change in the world, using their unique gifts and abilities to make a positive difference in the lives of those around them.
11. “The Servant Song” – Richard Gillard
Richard Gillard’s hymn beautifully encapsulates the spirit of servanthood and selflessness taught by Jesus Christ. It echoes the humility and compassion exemplified by Christ as He washed the feet of His disciples, challenging believers to follow His example by serving one another with love and humility. Through its gentle melody and heartfelt lyrics, the hymn inspires a deeper commitment to living out the Greatest Commandment through acts of service and compassion towards others.
12. “Bind Us Together” – Bob Gillman
“Bind Us Together” by Bob Gillman is a heartfelt prayer for unity and fellowship among believers. It reflects the spirit of the Greatest Commandment by emphasizing the importance of love and mutual support in building strong and lasting relationships within the body of Christ. With its simple yet powerful message and uplifting melody, the hymn serves as a reminder of the essential role that love plays in fostering unity and harmony among God’s people, inspiring believers to strive for genuine love and unity in their relationships with one another.
13. “Love One Another” – Luacine Clark Fox
Luacine Clark Fox’s hymn echoes the command of Jesus to love one another as He has loved us. It emphasizes the transformative power of love in overcoming division and discord, inviting believers to embrace a spirit of selfless love and compassion towards others. Through its simple yet profound lyrics and uplifting melody, the hymn serves as a reminder of the central importance of love in the Christian life, inspiring believers to embody the love of Christ in their interactions with others.
14. “Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love” – Tom Colvin
Tom Colvin’s hymn is a heartfelt prayer for God to fill believers with His love so that they may be agents of love and reconciliation in the world. It reflects the spirit of the Greatest Commandment by emphasizing the importance of love in bearing witness to the transformative power of the gospel. With its stirring melody and earnest plea, the hymn inspires believers to seek God’s empowering presence to love others as Christ has loved us, thereby reflecting His love and grace to a broken and hurting world.
15. “Make Me a Servant” – Kelly Willard
“Make Me a Servant” by Kelly Willard is a humble prayer for God to transform the singer into a vessel of His love and compassion. It reflects the spirit of the Greatest Commandment by emphasizing the importance of humility and servanthood in the Christian life. With its simple yet profound lyrics and gentle melody, the hymn inspires believers to emulate the example of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve, and to seek opportunities to serve others with love and humility in His name.
16. “One Bread, One Body” – John Foley
John Foley’s hymn celebrates the unity and communion shared by believers through the body and blood of Christ. It reflects the spirit of the Greatest Commandment by emphasizing the importance of love and unity within the body of Christ. Through its uplifting melody and heartfelt lyrics, the hymn invites believers to come together as one body, united in love and fellowship, as they partake in the sacrament of communion. It serves as a reminder of the profound bond shared by believers as members of the body of Christ, called to love and support one another in their journey of faith.
17. “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart” – George Croly
George Croly’s hymn is a prayer for the Holy Spirit to fill the singer’s heart with love and purity. It reflects the spirit of the Greatest Commandment by acknowledging the need for divine assistance in living out the command to love God and others wholeheartedly. Through its tender melody and earnest plea, the hymn inspires believers to open their hearts to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, enabling them to love as Christ loves and to live lives that reflect His love and grace to the world.
18. “Let There Be Love Shared Among Us” – David Billington
“Let There Be Love Shared Among Us” by David Billington is a prayer for God’s love to permeate and unite believers in a spirit of love and harmony. It reflects the essence of the Greatest Commandment by emphasizing the importance of love in fostering unity and community among God’s people. With its simple yet powerful message and uplifting melody, the hymn inspires believers to cultivate a spirit of love and generosity, reaching out to others with Christ’s love and compassion, and fostering a community marked by genuine care and concern for one another.
19. “We Are One in the Spirit” – Peter Scholtes
Peter Scholtes’ hymn celebrates the unity and diversity of the body of Christ, bound together by the love of God. It reflects the spirit of the Greatest Commandment by emphasizing the importance of love and unity among believers. Through its joyful melody and inclusive lyrics, the hymn invites believers to embrace their shared identity as children of God, called to love and support one another regardless of differences in background or experience. It serves as a powerful reminder of the essential role that love plays in uniting God’s people and bearing witness to His love in the world.
20. “The Gift of Love” – Hal H. Hopson
“The Gift of Love” by Hal H. Hopson is a hymn that celebrates the transformative power of love in the life of the believer. It reflects the spirit of the Greatest Commandment by emphasizing the centrality of love in the Christian faith. With its stirring melody and profound lyrics, the hymn invites believers to receive and share the gift of love that God has freely given to us through Christ. It serves as a reminder of the incredible privilege and responsibility of embodying God’s love in the world, inspiring believers to live lives characterized by love, compassion, and grace.
Harmonizing Hearts With the Greatest Commandment
As we conclude our journey through these hymns that harmonize hearts with the Greatest Commandment, we are reminded of the timeless truth that love is the cornerstone of our faith and the essence of our humanity.
Through the melodies and lyrics of these songs, we have encountered the transformative power of love to heal, unite, and inspire.
Let love be the guiding force that shapes your thoughts, words, and actions, drawing you closer to God and to those around you. Embrace the call to love wholeheartedly, knowing that in doing so, you fulfil the greatest commandment of all.
May we carry the melody of love in our hearts, allowing it to guide our thoughts, words, and actions each day. Let us continue to embrace the call to love God with all our being and to love our neighbours as ourselves, knowing that in doing so, we fulfil the greatest commandment of all.
