“For the love of Christ constrains us…” 2 Corinthians 5:14
Dear Ones:
In one of the most beautiful words in Scripture, Zephaniah writes: “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.” (3:17) It must be noted here that, literally, the phrase, “rest in His love,” means: “…a love too great for words.”
In a world of hate, treachery, lies and faithlessness, the holy character of the living God is demonstrated, proclaimed, and every day declared, that “God IS love.” This concept is so foreign to us as sinners, and enemies of God, that only the Spirit of God can give us understanding with regard to Love’s essence, and everlasting dimensions. It will certainly take the whole of all believers throughout all generations, plus the exquisite revelation of the beauty of God, of Christ, in creation, to just begin to understand and proclaim the love of God. And yet, with its revelation, there is nothing so compelling, and motivating, as this love. Indeed, it constrains, or moves us, to respond and act.
M. Shekelton in the hymn, “It Passes Knowledge,” captures, and elevates our concepts of such love, also giving us the means by which to trust God for the realization, and expression of such love in our lives.
“It passeth knowledge, that dear love of Thine, My Savior, Jesus; yet this soul of mine, Would of Thy love, in all its breadth and length, Its height and depth, its everlasting strength, Know more and more.”
“O, FILL me Jesus, Savior, with Thy love! Lead, lead me to the living fount above; There may I, in simple faith, draw nigh, And never to another fountain fly, But unto Thee.”
When all the books of history are written, and the compilation of all Christian experience has been read, studied, and proclaimed, the great and simple summary of it all is this: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” In reading and studying Paul’s great verse on the exchanged life, that of Galatians 2:20, the great truths of the first half of the verse absorb us so much, that we forget the last short phrase: “…the Son of God, who loved ME, and gave Himself for ME.” Paul never forgot that the Lord Jesus loved him personally, and individually. Ultimately, it was for this reason that Paul was saved, and came to be a marvelous instrument of blessing for so many. In John’s introduction to the book of the Revelation, he uses the phrase: “Unto Him that loved US, and washed us from our sins in His own blood…” Why? Because like Paul, John is constrained by this great truth, and reality…a reality that pertains to all men, specifically and personally to every believer, that God is love. He loves us individually, and profoundly.
Dear Father, upon this vast sea of the knowledge of Thy love, take us where you will, that we might KNOW the Lord Jesus, who IS love. And, as the hymn-writer has written, “May the love of Jesus FILL me, as the waters fill the sea; Him exalting, self abasing, This is victory.” Then, others will see this love and be drawn to Thee. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad