When we think of love combined with the month of February, perhaps our thoughts go to Valentine’s Day. Maybe we think of Paul’s words to the church recorded in 1 Corinthians 13. But when we consider a love that can change the world, we need to consider the love of Christ.
This poem by Annie Johnson Flint says it beautifully.
The Love of Christ
Annie Johnson Flint
How broad is His love?
Oh, as broad as man’s trespass,
As wide as the need of the world can be;
And yet to the need of one soul it can narrow–
He came to the world and He came to me.
How long is His love?
Without end or beginning,
Eternal as God and His life it must be,
For, to everlasting as from everlasting
He loveth the world and He loveth me.
How deep is His love?
Oh, as deep as man’s sinning.
As low as the uttermost vileness can be;
In the fathomless gulf of the Father’s forsaking
He died for the world and He died for me.How high is His love?
It is high as the heavens,
As high as the throne of His glory must be;
And yet from that height He hath stooped to redeem us–
He so loved the world and He so loved me.How great is His love?
Oh, it passeth all knowledge,
No man’s comprehension its measure can be;
It filleth the world, yet each heart may contain it–
He so loves the world and He so loves me.
“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.
If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
It does not demand its own way.
It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever” (1 Corinthians 13:1-8 NLT)!
As we go through our day, may we each consider the love of Christ. A love that can change the world. May we also consider how the love of Christ is expressed in our life.
I wish you well.
Sandy
