THE LOVE OF GOD

THE LOVE OF GOD

"For the love of Christ compels us . . ." 2 Corinthians 5:14

From the pen of Oswald Chambers (MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST -- available
at the KESWICK ONLINE BOOKSTORE . . . www.americaskeswick.org)

"Paul said that the was overpowered, subdued, and held as in a vise by
'the love of Christ.' Very few of us know what it means to be held in
the grip of the love of God. We tend so often to be controlled simply by
our own experience. The one thing that gripped Paul, to the exclusion of
everything else, was the love of God. When you hear that coming from the
life of a man or woman it is unmistakable. You will know the Spirit of
God is completely unhindered in that persons life . . .

When this happens . . . we will accept EVERYTHING that happens as it
were happening to Him, whether we receive praise or blame, persecution
or reward. No one is able to take this stand for Jesus Christ who is not
totally compelled by the majesty of His power. It is the only thing that
matters, and yet it is strange that it's the last thing we realize.

Paul said that he was GRIPPED by the love of God and that why he acted
as he did. People could perceive him as mad or sane -- he did not care.
There was only one thing he lived for -- to persuade people of the
coming judgment of God and to tell them of 'the love of Christ.' This
total surrender to 'the love of Christ' is the only thing that will bear
fruit in your life. And it will always leave the mark of God's holiness
and His power, never drawing attention to your personal holiness."

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me,
Underneath me, all around me,
Is the current of Thy love;
Leading onward, leading homeward
To my glorious rest above.

O the deep, deep, love of Jesus,
Spread His praise from shore to shore.
How he loveth, ever loveth,
Changeth never, nevermore.
How He watches o're His loved ones,
Died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth,
Watcheth o'er them from the throne.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Love of every love the blest;
'Tis an ocean vast of blessing,
'Tis a haven sweet of rest,
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
'Tis a heav'n of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory,
For it lifts me up to Thee. Samuel Trevor Francis (1834-1925)

Good words for us today!