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Daily Devotionals
Music For the Soul
Devotional: February 11th

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THE CROSS THE PROOF OF GOD’S LOVE

But God commendeth His own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, - Romans 5:8

We have to turn to the work of Christ, and especially to His death, if we would estimate the love of God. The most wonderful revelation to every heart of man of the depths of that Divine heart lies in the gift of Jesus Christ. The Apostle bids me "behold what manner of love." And I turn to the Cross, and I see there a love which shrinks from no sacrifice, but gives " Him up to death for us all." I turn to the Cross, and I see there a love which is evoked by no lovableness on my part, but comes from the depth of His own Infinite Being, who loves because He must, and who must because He is God. I turn to the Cross, and I see there manifested a love which sighs for recognition, which desires nothing of me but the repayment of my poor affection; and I see there a love that will not be put away by all sinfulness and shortcomings and evil. So, streaming through the darkness of eclipse, and speaking to me even in the awful silence in which the Son of man died there for sin, I "behold," and I hear the " manner of love that the Father hath bestowed upon us." Undeserved and Infinite, boundless and endless, in its measure measureless, in its quality transcendent - the love of God to me in Jesus Christ my Saviour.

In like manner we have to think, if we would estimate the " manner of this love," that through and in the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ there comes to us the gift of a Divine life like His own. Perhaps it might be a refinement of interpretation; but it certainly does seem to me that that expression, "To bestow His love upon" us, is not altogether the same as to love us, but that there is a greater depth in it. There may be some idea of that love itself being as it were infused into us, and not merely of its consequences or tokens being given to us; as Paul speaks of " the love of God shed abroad in our hearts" by the spirit which is given to us. At all events this communication of Divine life, which is at bottom Divine love - for God’s life is God’s love - is His great gift to men.

Be that as it may, these two are the great tokens, consequences, and measures of God’s love to us - the gift of Christ, and that which is the sequel and outcome thereof, the gift of the Spirit which is breathed into Christian spirits. These two gifts, which are one gift, embrace all that the world needs. Christ for us and Christ in us must both be taken into account if you would estimate the manner of the love that God has bestowed upon us.

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