Wednesday, 13 May 2015

152. Rock Goes The Gospel - Queen "Love Of My Life"

“Love of my life” was written, sung, and played by Freddie Mercury (with guitar sequences added in by Brian May), nearly instantly became a fan favorite and was played at nearly every Queen concert. It was especially popular in South Africa. Often, Freddie would stop singing and allow the crowd to carry on the tune (as can be seen in their Live in Rio compilation).  This song details the plight of a man who's been abandoned by his lover. He feels that the love that has been taken from him affects him far more than it does his lover, and pleads, "Bring it back home to me because you don't know what it means to me."


Love of my life, you've hurt me,
You've broken my heart and now you leave me.
Love of my life can't you see,
Bring it back, bring it back,
Don't take it away from me because you don't know what it means to me.

Love of my life, don't leave me,
[Album version:] You've taken my love, you now desert me,
[Live version:] You've stolen my love, you now desert me,
Love of my life, can't you see?
Bring it back, bring it back,
Don't take it away from me because you don't know what it means to me.

You will remember
When this is blown over
And everything's all by the way
When I grow older
I will be there at your side to remind you how I still love you, I still love you.

[Album version:] Back, hurry back,
[Live version:] Hurry back, hurry back,
[Album version:] Please, bring it back home to me because you don't know what it means to me.
[Live version:] Don't take it away from me, because you don't know what it means to me -

Love of my life
Love of my life... 
 I’ve never written a love song. I have not even been one of those types of people that would say “let’s give it a go.” I have never had the gift of either music or lyrics. I have other gifts that God has given me. You may be the same. There are however, plenty of people that have written love songs. In every genre of music there are love songs. It seems though that Love songs might be called lust or desire songs, as they are very rarely about faithful and long lasting devotion to one person. Some are of course but others well they are left wanting when it comes to love. ‘You’re My Best Friend’ - Queen, ‘You Make Loving Fun’ - Fleetwood Mac, "You're the Inspiration" – Chicago, and "Wonderful Tonight" - Eric Clapton are a few that spring to mind.


If I really had the ability to write a love song about God I would have no hesitation calling it “Faultless Love”. No human example of love can compare with that of God’s love. As this love is the heart transforming agape love of God in Christ. Our love cannot be compared with God’s love our love manages even in its truest form to contaminate in comparison with God’s love. But still Jesus calls for us to love God even what it is not all that it should be. This love song has already been written on the pages of scripture and it sound like a Rod Stewart ballad.

“with all your heart . . . with all your soul . . . with all your strength . . . with all your mind .

The passage in Luke 10 is one of a great many passages ion the Bible that contain thoughts of love for God. You could say that the Bible is a treasure trove of Love. The Scriptures are full of  stories, examples, illustrations and encouragement to Love God. The Bible is a great place to start to learn about loving God. The word of God encourages our love for God. This morning we look at some of those wonderful passages.


To love God is to worship and praise Him. "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only'" (Luke 4:8). The book of Psalms provides many beautiful examples of how to worship and praise our Creator (e.g., Psalms 8, 19, 23, 24, 67, 99, 117, and 150).


To love God is to put Him first. The number-one commandment is to love God “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). It’s an undivided love. God is our priority. If we love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, then we won’t allow other things to crowd in. Our love for God is manifested by loving people (Mark 12:31), but we do not love the things of the world. “Earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25). We cannot love this present world and God at the same time (1 John 2:15); love for what the world offers can lead us astray (2 Timothy 4:10).


To love God is to desire Him, to yearn for His righteousness, His Word, and His grace. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1). Once we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8), we want more of Him. If we love God, we will be like Mary of Bethany, “who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said” (Luke 10:39). If we love God, the psalmist’s description of the Word of God will resonate within us: “[it is] more precious than gold, than much pure gold; . . . sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb” (Psalm 19:10).


Suppose a man is separated from his girlfriend, wife, or partner and receives a letter from her. His first action will be to eagerly open the letter and pore over its contents. His love for his beloved will naturally cause him to love her correspondence with him. The same is true with our love for God’s Word. Because we love the Author, we love His message to us. We read it avidly and often, we hold it close, and we hide its words in our hearts.


Finally, to love God is to obey Him. Jesus tells us, “If you love me you will obey what I command” (John 14:15, 23; 15:10; 1 John 5:3). However, this is not a matter of merely following rules and registering good deeds. It is about having God’s love written indelibly on our hearts. We naturally wish to please those we love. When we love God, we will want to please Him and obey His commands eagerly. “I delight to do your will” (Psalm 40:8) In Jeremiah 7:21-24 we find the obedience is Love.


For the followers of Jesus life is not about following a set of rules, but living by the value of love. We are called upon to truly love God with all that we are and in ever action. This love song is what Jesus was on about in Luke 10:25-28.




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