February 14, 2014.

For this Valentine’s day post, I am totally going to steal my friend’s idea. Instead of focusing on the love that is shared between two mutually exclusive couples (not saying that I have anything against that), I’m going to talk about the love of Christ for us. There is a hymn that we sing from time to time that I think embodies truth and I would like to share some of the lyrics with you. Fredrick M. Lehman wrote this song in 1917; I think his third verse is especially powerful:

“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.

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.”

How true do these words ring. The God of the universe, mighty in power, above all, in all and through all, for some inconceivable reason shows his love to mere mortal man. Why? I suppose that’s a question we will have to ask him when we get up there. But this I do know, he gave his own son that we might not see the destruction we are all destined for. To not respond to that gospel call would be to mask his death in vanity, and this would be a terrible shame.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
(Matthew 22:36-40)

Everything hangs on these two commandments because if they are practiced in full, all other commands will be easy to follow. In fact, they will be followed due to this love. This is truly amazing.

As we go throughout this day of love, let us not forget the love of God that is displayed though his Son for us. God bless you all.

Suggested Daily Reading: Matthew 22, I Corinthians 13, II John 1.

Christ’s love be upon you.

-Walter