O love your God, alternate fifth stanza

O love your God with all your heart,

            With all your power to love;

Now show that love to all around

            As to your Lord above.

 

O love your God with all your soul,

            With all your power to feel; 

Give to the world your greatest gifts

            To show your Lord is real.

 

O love your God with all your strength,

            With all your power to do;

Show deeds of holy service now

            To serve your Savior true.

 

O love your God with all your mind,

            With all your power to know;

In word and thought be full of grace,

            The power of God to show.

 

With mind and strength and soul and heart

            The love of God proclaim,

That all the world may know that love

            And call on Jesus’ name.

 

Alternate final stanza:

As you have loved the Lord your God,

            So love your neighbor well; 

There is no rule of greater worth 

            Than in these loves to dwell.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, June 2019; alternate stanza October 2021, after Luke 10:26-28 or Mark 12:28-31.

MUSIC: Suggested tune AZMON, Carl Gotthelf Gläser, 1828; arr. Lowell Mason, 1839.

A revision of a text from back in June 2019, found here. Mark's rendering of this encounter adds what seems to me a significant comment from Jesus, the part about how there is no commandment greater than these. With this text approaching in the lectionary, a quick revision to bring this note into the hymn seemed desirable.