Perhaps the Three Greatest Words …
“I love you” – perhaps three of the greatest words one could ever say to another…
It’s human nature – we all want to love and be loved. However, we know that “words can be cheap;” we need to demonstrate our love by our actions.
Picture this scene by faith – we see the Lord Jesus Christ nailed to the cross at Calvary, suffering in our place, so we might have eternal life. I view it as the ultimate expression of Him saying, “I love you.”
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
“…Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” (Ephesians 5:25)
Our Lord was that merchant man spoken of in Matthew 13, “seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”
Paying the penalty for OUR sins, he submitted himself unto death, even the death of the cross…
Subsequently, “He has taken me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me is love.” (Song of Songs 2:4)
Instead of “banqueting house,” a better translation would be “house of wine.”
Now we know that wine in Scripture speaks of joy. Is this not true of us, His bride, the church? Are we not full of joy is His presence and cognizant of his unfailing and everlasting love?
He will never leave us nor forsake us and who or what shall ever separate us from the love of Christ? Truly, we are safe and secure forevermore…
May we never forget that image at Calvary of our Lord with outstretched arms, his nail-pierced hands and feet, in essence saying “I love you.”
Would that these few thoughts stir up our hearts with fresh appreciation and affection towards our Lord Jesus Christ – the one who loved us and gave Himself for us!
Behold A Spotless Victim Dies
Behold! A spotless victim dies,
My surety on the tree;
The Lamb of God, the Sacrifice,
He gave Himself for me.
Whatever curse was mine he bore;
The wormwood and the gall,
There, in that lone mysterious hour,
My cup – He drained it all.
Lord Jesus! Thou, and none beside,
Its bitterness could know,
Nor other tell Thy joy’s full tide
That from that cup shall flow.
Thine is the joy, but yet ‘tis mine,
‘Tis ours as one with Thee
My joy flows from that grief of Thine;
Thy death brings life to me!
And while the ages roll along,
This shall my glory be;
And this the new and endless song,
Thy love to us – to me.
(The Believers Hymn Book, Hymn 16)