HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
The love of God is the best love of all.
It sends me the richest gift. What is it that He bestows?
Not gold and gems.
Not houses and lands.
Not a world with its wealth.
Not an angel’s clear shining wisdom and a burning compassion.
It is something immeasurably better. It is Jesus Christ! It is His own Equal and Fellow, very God of very God. It is the Son of His heart.
And this love suffers the keenest pain for me. I cannot separate the incarnation from the crucifixion, Bethlehem from Calvary; the village inn is but a stage on the way to the hill of reproach. Jesus took my nature, in order that He might ransom my soul. He was born, that He might die. And for His Father, witnessing it all, approving of it all, following every step of that awful descent on to its tragic close — what sorrow of sorrows there was here!
And this love blesses me, the most unworthy. Men love the lovable. But God commends His love toward me, in that, while I was yet a sinner, Christ died for me. Nothing sweet and gracious was there about me — I was a prodigal and an enemy. It was then, while I was yet a great way off, that the Father ran, and fell on my neck, and kissed me! Unbidden, unasked, uncompelled — He opened to me His deepest heart.
Oh, how He loves! And, having once set His affection on me, He will never withdraw His grace. Space is against my earthly loves — space can sever and part. Time is against my human loves — time can canker and chill. But God loves me to the end, and through the end, and forever and ever!
