BETTER THAN WINE
Jack Davis
“…Thy love is better than wine…we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee” Song of Solomon 1:2,4.
Oh, what can compare with the love God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord? Through the Eternal Spirit, the anointed One offered Himself without spot to God, producing divine wine of everlasting joys. But take the most thrilling, exhilarating, intoxicating, exciting time in the Lord, the most blessed refreshing you could imagine and having known His love and you will find no comparison.
LOVE COMMENDED
“…THE LOVE OF God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost…For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet preadventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” Rom. 5:5-11.
Divine love extended toward us in Christ’s death is stronger than our weakness is weak, more godly than all our ungodliness, more righteous than all our unrighteousness is unrighteous, good beyond the full measure of our lack of goodness; providing sinlessness incomparable to the depth of our sinfulness. Oh then love showed a friendliness far beyond our enmity. He hath not only saved us from the wrath and eternal death, but brought us into the enjoyment of eternal life in Him. Hallelujah! The greatness of Christ’s love extends immeasurably beyond the immensity of human hatred. It is hard for us to comprehend humanity’s inhumanity to man in our day. How marvelous that God has remove from us that which was against us as far as east from the west and farther; to a land uninhabited.
We, bless God, are not restored to an unfallen state when we accept His redemption, but we are taken in the opposite direction and far beyond. Thank God “in Christ” we are not on probation, as to our salvation. There is no comparison in what God’s love has made available to us in Christ Jesus, and what humanity had been offered before the fall.
LOVE COMPREHENDED
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” Eph. 3:17-19.
In Paul’s prayer for the Saints he speaks of a love that passes knowledge. He thinks of how it may be revealed and seized hold of. This is quite beyond theory, or reason. He craves that this become reality. The love that Jesus expressed, extended unto us in full measure is easier “felt than telt” even better experienced than explained. Such love will fill our lives with that which pertains to God.
OUR COURSE
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor” Eph. 5:1-2.
“Walk in love” – I am glad God has provided for our life’s mode of travel. Oh, what shoes! This is far more than going the extra mile, more than turning the other cheek. What a realm to move in, of the highest calling! “As Christ” - what a standard! It seems to demand far more than loving ones neighbor as ourself; It is very difficult for us to grasp where and how far Jesus walked in love. Our Father must reveal what all it covered to our hearts. It took Him to the cross, the tomb, resurrection, ascension, and now interceding before the throne.
OUR COMFORT
If there be therefore any…comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit…” Phil. 2:1.
As we walk in love, we are tenderly, pleasantly, blessedly comforted. Herein Our Father has provided comforting companionship. Oh how sweet to submit to the Spirit’s balm in Christ life consolations. God delights to answer in our lives, Paul’s prayer that our hearts be comforted being knit together in love. Col. 2:2.
OUR CONSTRAINT
“For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 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” II Cor. 5:13-15.
Love’s constraint to live unto Him, is the most powerful motivation possible. What hold, what sweeter control, then to make us true love slaves, gladly occupied in labors of love. Whether we be beside ourselves or sober?
LOVE’S CONQUERORS
Nay, in all the things marshaled against us: “we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” Rom. 8:37. We who have been conquered by His love have been wonderfully provided for, to make us decisively victorious.
LOVE’S CONSUMMATION
What a consummation to be realized at the coronation, and the royal wedding. We read with delight God’s love story from beginning to end. Jesus has amazingly made way for our cleansing unto the glorious crowning.
“Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him to glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” Rev. 1:5-6.
