This Is My Will, My One Command

“This Is My Will, My One Command” is a modern devotional hymn by James Quinn that centers on Christ’s clear and searching call to love. Rooted firmly in the words of Jesus from the Upper Room discourse, the hymn presents love not as a vague sentiment, but as the defining mark of Christian discipleship. Its language is direct and reflective, inviting worshipers to examine their lives in the light of Christ’s command to love as He has loved.

The hymn draws strongly from John 13:34-35 and John 15:12, where Jesus identifies love as both His command and the visible sign of belonging to Him. Quinn emphasizes that this love is grounded in Christ’s own self giving, reaching its fullest expression in the cross. The hymn reminds believers that Christian love is not optional or secondary, but central to obedience, witness, and faithfulness.

A key theme throughout the hymn is the cost and depth of true love. Love is portrayed as patient, forgiving, and sacrificial, shaped by Christ’s example rather than human preference. This aligns closely with the teaching of 1 John 4, which affirms that love originates in God and is demonstrated supremely in the sending of His Son. The hymn encourages believers to reflect that divine love in their relationships with one another and with the world.

The hymn also has a strong communal emphasis. It calls the church to embody Christ’s love in visible and practical ways, echoing Micah 6:8 by linking love with justice, mercy, and humble obedience before God. In doing so, it reminds worshipers that love is lived out in daily choices, service, and faithfulness, not merely expressed in words.

“This Is My Will, My One Command” continues to be valued for its biblical clarity and ethical focus. It serves well as a hymn of commitment, reflection, and response, challenging believers to align their lives with Christ’s command and to bear faithful witness through lives marked by genuine, Christlike love.