2006-11-30 - Love Songs

Originally Published 2001-04-05

1 John 4:18-19 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19 We love, because He first loved us (NAS)

Back in the early 1980's, a young lady named Amy Grant sang a song called Singin' a Love Song. The chorus went like this:

You've got me singin' a love song,
Melody and Rhyme - it moves me everytime.
You've got me singin' a love song,
and it keeps You on my mind - ohh on my mind.
Feelin' fine all the time
It keeps You on my mind.

Amy Grant, Singin' a Love Song
Amy Grant: In Concert, Volume Two
Myrrh Records, © 1981 MSB-6677

This is a very pure outpouring of love for her Savior. It is the kind of expression that comes from a heart that begins to know just how much it has been forgiven, and how very much indebted it is to its Beneficiary. There are big and small ways that we see Jesus' love everyday. Unless we are watching carefully, seeing things with His eyes so to speak, we will miss many of them. When we are focused on Him, we see them - sometimes with resounding, stunning clarity. It is easy to respond to Christ's love for us when we are so aware of His love, mercy and grace given to us so freely. We sing love songs back to Him from our hearts.

Matt 10:29-31 "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ³⁰ "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ "Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows. (NAS)

Then there are times when we have failed, when we have stumbled and sinned. In those times when we have fallen so hard and know only disappointment in our heart and mind, there is a very special silver lining. We are so performance-oriented, we think that because we have failed that we are less valued by God. But the Lord sees the finished you and me standing with Him in glory. In those lonely moments of failure, He comes to us and puts His strong hand under our chins. He lifts our heads, so we can only look into His face. In those times, it is Jesus singing a love song to us - when we feel worthless and unlovable.

Will sin still exact a price from us? Sometimes it does - in excess, alcohol can still cause liver damage, as one example. Can Jesus heal? Yes, but He does not always do so. Sometimes He leaves us the way we are, to allow us to talk to others who suffer from the same damage due to sin. We can become a beacon of hope to that person. That hopeless person knows that we understand exactly what he is going through. God has not given up on them. Someone does care. We become the love song of Jesus Christ to that person who thought there was no hope and no way out.

We can be lighthouses along the coastline, leading these ships lost out in the storm to a safe port.

John 3:17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. (NAS)

Lord Jesus - thank You for Your love song to us that is always fresh and always new. Teach us the words to sing. Write them on our hearts and minds, so that we can share that same good news with a lost and dying world. Amen.

Grace & Peace,
Mike

jmhoskins@gmail.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org