Before the altar of our Lord we come together.We stand — hand in hand — and wish to hear the words which God would say. We wish for joy and life and happiness His voice we hear proclaim, “I will show you the most excellent way.”

The most excellent way is the way of love.Not a love of human urge and pleasure, But the love from God above.This is love, the love beyond all measure.

An individual may speak,with words of most convincing logic, with words of arguments persuasive, with words as honey sweetly dripping from the lips, but those wordswithout the love of God embodied are but clanging gongs and harsh disharmony.

In the marriage covenantthe most excellent way is the way of love. In your marriage covenantlet the words which are spoken be the words which are taken from the way of God’s love:the most excellent way.

As children of the heavenly Father you have listened to his Word.You have tried to live in honor and obedience as you have gone into the world.You may know his will, and you may have the faith, faith to move the highest mountains. But that faith and wisdom, without the love of God directed, is but nothing:a void of empty lonely thought.

In the marriage covenant,the most excellent way is the way of love. In your marriage covenant, let your wisdom and your faith be centered and guidedin the way of God’s love:the most excellent way.

You could give up all the wealth that you have, your money and name, possessions and fame.You could die for your faith, but it would count for no gain. For shed without love these efforts and deeds are but feeble and shallow devoid of true life, no meaning indeed.

In the marriage covenantthe most excellent way is the way of love. In your marriage covenantlet the deeds that you do, the gifts that you give, be given in love — the love from our God:it is the most excellent way.

This way — the way of God’s love is so full and so great.When life is lived from the way of above, that love does our very existence penetrate. We find ourselves transformed and transported, from things small and petty distorted; to things which are holy and hopeful and true. No longer the envy, the boasting, the pride. No longer the rudeness, self-seeking, or anger. Now comes the patience, the kindness, the truth. And also the trusting, the hope, and the future. For in this love, the love of our Savior, our future is safe and forever secure.

In the marriage covenantthe most excellent way is the way of God’s love. In your marriage covenantlet God’s love overwhelm you and in joy unify you. God’s love after all is the most excellent way for you.

As you stand here this day with promise and honor you pledge to each other:faithfulness, devotion, and love. Look to the future together and what do you see it to be? The things of our doing, our thoughts and our wisdoms, our deeds and our ways, these are the things which cannot help but pass away. But the way of our Lord, the way of that love, is steady and sure, for then, and for now, and for times to come still.

For the way of God’s love is the most excellent way. In marriage that love is the best way of all.And life in such love is today full of promise — potential immense and tremendous. God’s love is the most excellent way.

Now our vision is dim,mere shadows we see,of life in such love, of what we can be. We feel so young, inadequate, not sure. We struggle like children to be faithful and pure. We live in his love but it’s like we’re half there. It’s imperfect and broken, this life we live here. God’s promise to us, in this way of his love, is that life will be wholewhen we come to his home high above.

In the marriage covenant,the most excellent way is the way of God’s love. In your marriage covenant, let your life lived togetherbe centered and ordered by grace and forgiveness from Christ freely given, in hope and sure promise of glorious heaven. This way of God’s love is the most excellent way for you.

The way of God’s love,three words summarize it:faith, and hope, and love. One word typifies it:The greatest of these is none other than love. In his love he has given, unlimited promise. For what God has givenis Christ’s death and life for us. This is his most excellent way the way of his love to us.

So joining togetherin vows of commitment is centered in love, God’s love and fulfillment. These two will be one, they will be faithful we pray. For God in his love has shown unto them the most excellent way.

— Joel W. Kreger St. Luke Lutheran ChurchNora Springs, Iowa