Saturday, December 16

MORE LOVE TO THEE, O CHRIST

“God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Wow!  How could I not reciprocate this love when I see what the Lord has done for me!  For I know where I have been, and I know where Christ has brought me!  O, behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God.  How can words capture and convey the experience of overwhelming love and joy that floods my heart when I behold my Lord?  Christ’s love to me is matchless!  His love never fails.

Elizabeth Payson Prentiss, author of the hymn’s text, once said, “To love Christ more is the deepest need, the constant cry of my soul…out in the woods, and on my bed, and out driving, when I am happy and busy, and when I am sad and idle, the whisper keeps going up for more love, more love, more love!”

Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee.  I do not think that there is a more sure prayer that receives its answer.  Through my repentance I possess the power to cause a multitude of angels to exultantly rejoice and praise God!  That is incredible power!  In humility and submission to God the answer has indeed come – to love Christ more and to love His Church more.  Christ paid an enormous price for the unity of His Church.  His purpose for coming was to purchase for Himself a Bride – the Church, glorious, spotless, blameless, and holy.  That they may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou has sent Me.  

Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest, now Thee alone I seek.  We have all sought to fulfill longings in our hearts with the temporary joy that the world gives.  O, with more love we would seek Jesus alone, Jesus only, and secure the salvation of souls!  How often we seek for things of no lasting value.  God, grant us discernment of all that we spend ourselves on in vain.  Let the sorrows in this life be sweet messengers of God’s grace.  There is nothing that melts my heart more than to know the Lord promises to give me grace to endure every trial and affliction without sin, and then, to experience that grace.  O, with more love to Thee we will not only know, but experience grace, available for every circumstance.  For all the promises in Him are Yea!  and Amen! 

Take time, precious time, to seek the Saviour, which is Christ the Lord, who loved you and gave His life for you.  Open your eyes in childlike wonder this Christmas at the precious Babe in the manger bed—Sacrifice for you and me.  When you behold His great love for you, you will be in awe, fall in repentance and humility to your knees and cry out, “More love, more love, more love.” And this is my prayer: That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.  (Phil 1:9-11)

~ Rosemary Parrotta