Dear Members and Friends of IBCZ,
Last Sunday we considered the church as the Bride of Christ. As His Bride, our relationship with God is rooted in love – first, His love for us, and then in response, our love for God. Nothing renews, deepens, and energizes our faith like the realization of God’s love for us.
But it is easy in our hectic lives to lose sight of God’s love for us. We get distracted by other matters. Or perhaps a trial we are facing makes us question if God really loves us. One way to keep God’s love for us fresh in our minds is to turn to some of the hymns that clearly and powerfully portray for us the rich and abundant love of God.
You can take a few minutes to be still before God, look up the words or listen to the recordings on the internet, and let the truth of God’s love sink deeply into your soul. One that we sing sometimes in our worship services, and that portrays so powerfully and beautifully the reality of God’s love revealed at the cross of Christ is: How Deep the Father’s Love for Us. Slowly read and reflect on these words:
How deep the Father´s love for us? How vast beyond all measure?
That He should give His only Son, To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss? The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One, Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross, My sin upon His shoulders,
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice, Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there, Until it was accomplished,
His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything, No gifts, no power, no wisdom,
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart. His wounds have paid my ransom.
A few others include: O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus; Tell Me the Old, Old Story; The Love of God; And Can It Be?; Jesus Paid It All; and To God Be the Glory.
The more we deepen our understanding of God’s love for us, the more our love for God will grow.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Bob