Friday, February 25, 2011

Overwhelmed By God's Love

On Sunday morning our Choir and Orchestra are singing and playing a wonderful arrangement of the hymn, O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus. Samuel Trevor Francis wrote the hymn in 1890 after experiencing God's love in a very compelling way. On a cold, winter night, Francis found himself walking across London's Hungerford Bridge. He was at a point in his life where his faith was wavering, and he was mulling over his sadness and loneliness. As he walked, and contemplated his life, he heard a whisper tempting him to end his misery and jump into the churning waters below.

Fortunately, Francis didn't pay attention to the dark voice. Instead, he heard God's reassuring words speaking to him that night. On that bridge, he reaffirmed his faith in Jesus Christ, and put complete trust in him as his Savior.

As you read the words of his hymn, you hear echoes of this transformational experience. I love the thought of the first verse;
     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.

There are days when I desperately need the love of God to roll as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me. How about you? Are you hearing a dark voice whispering that you are not worthy? Or that God doesn't love you? Have people hurt you or disappointed you? Cry out to Christ, ask Him to allow his love to roll as a mighty ocean over you. He loves you, and He'll honor your heart's desire.

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