Good morning,
The Savior’s dying love
Charles Spurgeon, et al.
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Romans 5:8, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us!”
There is no love on earth to compare with the love of Jesus. His love is not a mere sentiment–it is a mighty, active, sacrificial love. From eternity past, He set His heart upon a people given to Him by the Father. Knowing full well their rebellion, guilt, and depravity–He loved them still. And because He loved them, He came down from the heights of glory to the depths of shame–to be the sin-atoning sacrifice for their sins.
The love of Jesus is a SOVEREIGN love–free, undeserved, and initiated by Himself alone. “We love Him, because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) There was nothing in us to attract Him–only vileness to repulse Him. Yet He set His love upon us with everlasting determination.
The love of Jesus is a SUFFERING love. He bore the wrath we deserved. He was pierced for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities. (Isaiah 53:5) Every blow He received, every thorn pressed into His brow, every nail driven through His flesh–proclaimed the depth and cost of His love for His people. The wounds of Jesus are the sure pledges of His love. He wrote His love in crimson letters upon the cross.
The love of Jesus is a PERSONAL love. “The Son of God…loved ME and gave Himself for ME.” (Galatians 2:20)
He knows and loves each of His redeemed people individually.
He sought us when we were wandering.
He drew us with cords of kindness.
He washed us in His blood.
He clothed us in His righteousness.
He calls us His brothers, His bride, His beloved.
The love of Jesus is an UNCHANGING love. Human love fades and falters–but not His. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. (John 13:1) Nothing in Heaven or on earth, in life or death, can separate us from His love! (Romans 8:39) His love does not fluctuate with our failures. It is rooted in His eternal purpose, and secured by His substitutionary atonement on the cross. O wondrous love of Jesus–matchless, infinite, and everlasting!
May His love for us melt our hearts, stir our affections, and move us to live wholly for Him. How can we not love the One who so loved us? Let us sit at His feet, gaze upon His wounds, cling to His cross, and joyfully say, “I am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved is mine!” (Song of Songs 6:3)
“May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should: how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully!” (Ephesians 3:18-19 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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