All Loves Excelling

'And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death not life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)

"Love divine is exemplified in our Saviour: His diligence in doing God's will and His patience in bearing it." Henry Scougal (Ref 1). Christ's ministry on earth manifested this love by His,

• Willingness to do God's will
• Bearing the consequences of obeying God's will
• Charity and love to all men

The measure of this love is shown by paying the ultimate penalty for our sins, saving us from eternal death, sacrificing His own life, dying on the cross.

'For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.' John 3:16

'Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friend.' John 15:13

'But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we are still sinners, Christ died for us.' Romans 5:8

St Paul prayed that we will

'Know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled with the measure of all the fullness of God.' Ephesians 3:19

Imagine having the fullness of God? What does this mean? The fullness of God is seen in us by we showing love for all our friends and neighbours. It is a command of Jesus Christ.

'A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know you that you are my disciples if you love one another.' John 13:34-35

And the measure of this love includes the willingness like Jesus to pay the ultimate sacrifice, as did the many Christian martyrs through the ages.

'My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.' John 15:12-14

It is this love that sustained many Christians who faced hardships, deprivations and persecutions from the beginning of the Church to the present times.

'Love never fails' 1 Corinthians 13:8a

• Love is an inward drive. Henry Scougal, "The love that someone bears toward God and toward goodness comes not so much by virtue of a command to which they are responsive but rather by a new nature instructing them and prompting them in that direction." 

• Love is natural even impulsive. Henry Scougal "His love makes him willing to give - and even if there were an outward obligation to act in such a way, his heart would devise liberal things.

• Love is compelling. Henry Scougal, "Love is the powerful and prevailing passion by which all of a person's inclinations should be determined and on which perfection and happiness depend. The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love." 

In 1747 Charles Wesley composed the song 'Love Divine, All Loves Excelling' celebrating this love of and love from God in the lives of Christians. This hymn tells us how this love from God will influence the life of Christians ever changing us from glory to glory until we enter eternity, taking our place in heaven.

Love divine, all loves excelling

Joy of heaven, to earth come down.

 Fix in us Thy humble dwelling

All Thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesus, Thou art all compassion,

pure unbounded love Thou art.

Visit us with Thy salvation;

Enter every trembling heart

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit

Into every troubled breast.

Let us all in Thee inherit

Let us find Thy perfect rest.

Take away our bent to sinning;

Alpha and Omega be.

End of faith, as its beginning

set our hearts at liberty

Come, Almighty, to deliver

Let us all Thy life receive.

Suddenly return and never,

Nevermore Thy temples leave

Thee we would be always blessing

Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,

Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,

Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish, then, Thy new creation

True and spotless let us be.

Let us see Thy great salvation

Perfectly restored in Thee.

Changed from glory into glory,

Till in heaven we take our place

Till we cast our crowns before Thee

Lost in wonder, love and praise.

Lionel

Ref 1: Henry Scougal, The Life of God in the Soul of Man. Crossway Short Classics, Crossway 2022

The Love Of God

A Mural in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem

'For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.' John 3:16

Christians understand the love of God as that love that compels the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our salvation. While this atoning love of Christ's sacrifice is indeed the greatest love of all, many Christians have a very narrow, almost self-serving understanding of God's love; the love of God is all about us and our salvation. But God's love is far more than just for our salvation. It is timely for us to understand how deep and how wide, how ubiquitous and permeating the Love of God is not only to us but for the whole world.  

Allow me to share with you a remarkably tender video. This past week, my grandchildren were down with Covid. The eldest, James came down with Covid-19 and he kept himself to his bedroom, resting all day. Now the family has two pet cats who are lovingly close to the family, especially with our three grandchildren, James, Eleanor and Luke. The cats seem to know that the children are sick. Auri, one of cats, went to my daughter, meowed and then led her to James' bedroom beckoning her to open the door. She then got on to his bed and started comforting him.

What do you think of it? My first thought was that of reciprocal love. Pets are capable of empathy and often return the love and care expressed to them. Pets are especially sensitive and endearing towards their caring owners. Love and care received translate to love and care returned.

Another lingering thought is that this gesture by animals show the love of God expressed in all creation. So like all of God's creatures, humans are also capable of expressing God's love in the most loving and tender-hearted manner. Unfortunately. it is most tragic that sin prevents some of us from expressing that innate love of God.

The Psalmist extolled the Love of God manifested in all creation; inanimate and animate, physical and biological Nature

'Your unfailing love, O Lord, is a vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is Your unfailing love, O God. All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of Your wings. ' Psalms 36:5-7

O the depths and the ramifications of God's love. Thus, to see this love only from the perspective of salvation, however important it may be, is to miss this love altogether. We need to unpeel the camouflage that Satan and sin imposes on this love. We need to realise that The Love of God Is Greater Far than we can ever conceive.

The love of God is greater far

  Than tongue or pen can ever tell.

It goes beyond the highest star

  And reaches to the lowest hell.

The guilty pair, bowed down with care,

  God gave His Son to win;

His erring child He reconciled

  And pardoned from his sin.

O love of God, how rich and pure!

  How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure

The saints’ and angels’ song

When hoary time shall pass away,

  And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall;

When men who here refuse to pray,

  On rocks and hills and mountains call;

God’s love, so sure, shall still endure,

  All measureless and strong;

Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—

  The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
  And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
  And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
  Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
  Though stretched from sky to sky.

This love is anchored in us and St Paul boldly said that nothing can separate us from God's love.  

'For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Romans 8:38-39 

We have come in full circle, the Love of God seen externally and beyond us eventually leads to the Love of God felt within us; leading to our full salvation

'Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And 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 3:17-19 (NLT)

Lionel