"The Love"

Why does Jesus love us so,

I’d really like to know,

I realize the mystery,

Is far too great and so,

I’ll simply celebrate the fact,

There’s nothing I can do,

To increase His love for me,

The Bible says it’s true.

And nothing wrong I’ve ever done,

Can decrease His love at all,

It’s all about what’s undeserved,

And grace is what it’s called.

Obeying Him is my response,

To what He’s done for me,

Following His every lead,

And praying I will see,

What work He’s assigned to me,

And what He’s called me to,

Not holding back a single thing,

Sold out, His will to do.

People speak of sacrifice,

And their suffering a lot,

And I know some have paid a price,

That folks like me have not.

But I have to say in view of love,

And how great His grace can be,

Nothing that we’ve given up,

Is worth a thing, you see.

The hidden treasure, shiny pearl,

Brings joy to all who find,

And nothing is worth missing it,

Or what we’ve left behind.

Jesus talked about the plow,

Where we have put our hand,

Don’t look back is what He said,

We build on rock, not sand.

But when we see His love for us,

And I mean really see,

We count the rest as rubbish,

His grace has set us free.

So we cannot go wrong, my friend,

By pointing to the love,

It’s all that sets the captive free,

And sent from God above.

“…and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19, NAS)

Being filled with all the fullness of God would indeed be the highest goal for every Christian. To be filled to overflowing in that way shifts everything about the way we function, because the empowerment of God’s Spirit would take us places we could never go through our own effort, no matter how well-intentioned. But being filled this way is connected, according to Paul, with experiencing the love of Christ and grasping its dimensions. When we receive the love and cooperate with it, the fullness of God follows. From start to finish it’s all about the love of Jesus. Be filled.

Lord, help us grasp the magnitude of Your love, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bill Anton, used by permission. Thanks, Bill, and God bless you.