The Love of Christ

 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. -John 14:21

O the wonder of wonders, 

That God should love me! 

Love a sinner so guilty, 

So vile and unclean. 

To love the unlovely, 

How can it be done? 

'Tis only in Jesus, 

Through His precious Son. 

-Mark Webb

 2 Corinthians 5:14   For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 

  2 Corinthians 5:15   And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
-2 Corinthians 5:14-15

We are constrained to holiness by the love of Christ; the love of Him Who loved us, is the only cord by which we are bound to the service of God. The scourge of our affections is the only scourge that drives us to duty. Sweet bands, and gentle scourges! Who would not be under their power? ...  If you are visited with seasons of coldness and indifference--if you begin to be weary or lag behind in the service of God, behold! here is the remedy: Look again to the bleeding Saviour. ... As long as the believing eye is fixed upon [Him], the path of the believer is easy and unimpeded. But lift off the believing eye, and the path becomes impracticable---the life of holiness a weariness. Whosoever, then, would live a life of persevering holiness, let him keep his eye fixed on the Saviour.  -R.M. McCheyne

I've Found a Friend, O Such a Friend! 

by James G. Small

I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend!

He loved me ere I knew Him;

He drew me with the cords of love,

And thus He bound me to Him;

And round my heart still closely twine

Those ties which naught can sever,

For I am His, and He is mine,

Forever and forever.

I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend!

He bled, He died to save me;

And not alone the gift of life,

But His own self He gave me!

Naught that I have mine own I call,

I’ll hold it for the giver,

My heart, my strength, my life, my all

Are His, and His forever.

I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend!

All power to Him is given,

To guard me on my onward course,

And bring me safe to Heaven.

The eternal glories gleam afar,

To nerve my faint endeavor;

So now to watch, to work, to war,

And then to rest forever.

I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend!

So kind and true and tender,

So wise a counselor and guide,

So mighty a defender!

From Him who loves me now so well

What power my soul can sever?

Shall life or death, shall earth or hell?

No! I am His forever.

 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? -Romans 8:35

 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, 

nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, 

shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Romans 8:35