Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions

February 13 MY SAVIOR’S LOVE Words and Music by Charles H. Gabriel, 1856–1932 Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:2) Love saw a guilt of sin, and sought a basis of pardon. Love saw the defilement of sin, and sought a way of cleansing. Love saw the depravity of sin, and sought a means of restoration. Love saw the condemnation of sin, and sought a method of justification. Love saw the death of sin, and sought a way of life. Love sought—Love found! —Unknown Historians have noted that the ancient Greeks expressed three levels of love: Eros Love—a “give me” kind of love; Philia Love—a “give and take” kind of love. “You love me and I’ll love you;” and Agape Love—an “unconditional” kind of love. “I love you simply for who you are.” Our Savior’s love was agape love in its highest form. He loved us enough to leave heaven’s best, to suffer humiliation and death for a world of rebellious sinners. Only when we are gathered in glory with the ransomed of the ages and see His face will we fully know the meaning of this divine love. In the meantime, however, the scriptural command is that we are to live a life of love that ministers to the needs of others as a “fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” “My Savior’s Love” was written by Charles H. Gabriel, the most popular and prolific gospel song writer of the 1910–20 decade, which was the height of the Billy Sunday/Homer Rodeheaver evangelistic crusades. This song first appeared in the hymnal titled Praises, published in 1905. I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned, unclean. For me it was in the garden He prayed, “Not My will, but Thine;” He had no tears for His own griefs but sweat drops of blood for mine. In pity angels beheld Him, and came from the world of light to comfort Him in the sorrows He bore for my soul that night. He took my sins and my sorrows; He made them His very own; He bore the burden to Calv’ry and suffered and died alone. When with the ransomed in glory His face I at last shall see, ’twill be my joy thru the ages to sing of His love for me. Chorus: How marvelous! how wonderful! and my song shall ever be: How marvelous! how wonderful is my Savior’s love for me! For Today: John 3:16; 15:12, 13; Ephesians 2:4–7; 1 John 3:16; 4:9, 10 Try to approach each event of the day with this question: “How would Jesus have shown His love in this situation?” Kenneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1990). 54.