Scripture Thursday ~ God IS Love

For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons neither the present nor the future,
nor any powers, neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us
from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

Hello my friends ~ welcome to another Scripture Thursday here at Little Birdie Blessings.    With Valentine’s Day approaching, I have been thinking about the topic of Love.  Not so much about the romantic kind of love with cards, flowers and chocolate (although that is nice), but the kind of love that God has for us.  The kind of love that is incomprehensible, and unconditional.  

There is a hymn that has been running through my mind constantly this week that sums up the only way I know how to describe the kind of love that God has for us.  The hymn is titled O the Deep Deep Love of Jesus, and was written in 1875 by Samuel Trevor Francis.   As a teenager contemplating suicide one night on a bridge, he experienced a spiritual awakening and went on to author many poems and hymns.  He compares Jesus’ love to the mighty ocean.   

winter morning view from my home, it was so cold that day,
what you see is known as "sea smoke"

I live in Maine in a small fishing community.  I know the beauty of the ocean, its vastness, might and power.  Over the years, many people right in our own community have lost their lives to the powerful force of the ocean.   In our area, it is the strongest force of nature.   

view from Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

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 Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o'er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o'er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
'Tis an ocean vast of blessing, 'tis a haven sweet of rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, 'tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!

Samuel Trevor Francis ~ 1875 

1^st John 4:8 tells us that God is Love.  God IS love, he defines love, his nature is love, his attributes are love.  God loves us so much that he sent his son Jesus to die on the cross and pay the penalty for our sin.  His love is personal, never changing, no beginning or end; he knows and loves you individually.  

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
I John 4:10

taken at Sunset, notice the lone bird flying

There may be some reading this that do not have someone to love and share their days with, or you may have someone who loves you but doesn’t express it in the way that you’d like them to.  Remember Jesus loves you with an everlasting and unconditional love.  A love that it vast, unmeasured, boundless, free and as mighty as the ocean. 

There is wisdom in the words of this hymn.  If the lyrics have spoken to you, please follow the link below to the video.  I think this rendition portrays it in such a powerful way.   As you listen to it, picture the love of Jesus wrapping you with warmth and care.  

O the Deep Deep Love of Jesus

 Thank you for all your encouraging comments.