And what was Paul? A blasphemer, a persecutor, one who injured the church of God. And did Jesus love Paul? Yes: "He loved me." Then the love of Jesus is free, and not on account of anything man is.
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. Whom once He loves He never leaves.
Jesus loves us this morning with a free, infinite, and eternal love. He loves our persons, apart from our graces and acts; 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 THEE, even thee." O to love Him in return! to love Him above health, wealth, comfort, yea, life itself! O 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! O could I praise Thee as I ought!
Written by James Smith for his own flock around 1840, but such was the demand that by 1846 over thirty thousand copies where in circulation.
James Smith was a predecessor of Charles Spurgeon at New Park Street Chapel in London from 1841-1850. He also ministered with great blessing in Cheltenham. His devotional, The Believer's Daily Remembrancer, subtitled Pastor's Morning and Evening Visit, was very popular in its own day, and has received a new lease of life through recent republication.
And what was Paul? A blasphemer, a persecutor, one who injured the church of God. And did Jesus love Paul? Yes: "He loved me." Then the love of Jesus is free, and not on account of anything man is.
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. Whom once He loves He never leaves.
Jesus loves us this morning with a free, infinite, and eternal love. He loves our persons, apart from our graces and acts; 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 THEE, even thee." O to love Him in return! to love Him above health, wealth, comfort, yea, life itself! O 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! O could I praise Thee as I ought!