‘I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me’ (Galatians 2:20)

What was Paul? A blasphemer, a persecutor, one who injured the Church of God. And did Jesus love Paul? Yes – He is the one ‘who loved me’.  Then the love of Jesus is free, and not on account of anything we are. The cause of love is in God, not in the objects loved.

You may have looked for some reason to conclude that God has loved you, but you have been disappointed. The Lord says, “I will love them freely”. When we were dead in sins, He quickened us because He loved us; He revealed Jesus to us because He loved us; He has given us His Holy Spirit because He loved us.

Those whom He loves, God promises He will never leave. Jesus loves us this morning with a free, infinite and eternal love. He loves us apart from our graces and actions; these are the effects of His love and not strictly the objects of His love.

O Holy Spirit! Whisper to our hearts this morning, “Jesus loved YOU, yes YOU!”. Oh to love Him in return! To love Jesus above health, wealth, comfort, yes, even life itself! Oh, to show forth the praises of His love by humility, faith, constancy and zeal!

   Great God, to Thy almighty love
What honours shall I raise?
Not all the raptured songs above,
Can render equal praise.
Thy love to me surpasses thought –
Oh could I praise Thee as I ought!

THE DAILY REMEMBRANCER by James Smith (1802-1862)

Journal Jottings

‘My heart is most base, O Jesus, cleanse it by Thy precious blood! O Holy Spirit, purify it by Thy sacred operations, and keep it by Thy power! O righteous Father, take up Thine abode within it, and devote it only and wholly to Thyself! I long to be entirely and unreservedly given up to the Lord’.