Focus: Love Worth Remembering

Text: Song of Sol.1:4.

"We will remember thy love more than wine."

Apostle John exclaims, "BEHOLD what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us...!" (1Jh.3:1). When Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples exclaimed, "What manner of man is this...?" When they felt the tangibility of His love, John exclaims, 'What manner of love the Father has lavished on us..!' Jesus was (and remains) the unique kind of man, and the Father's love remains the unique kind of love. It is a radical kind of love - love so strange and beyond logic!

It was on the grounds of love that Mary and Martha requested for the help of Jesus. They said, "Lord, BEHOLD, he whom thou lovest is sick." By watching Him weep at the grave site of Lazarus, the Jews said, "BEHOLD how he loved him!"

His love is something to behold. It is so visible and tangible. You can feel it. It takes your breath away. When the rich young man came to Him, we read in Mark 10:21, that "then Jesus beholding him loved him." Just looking at the man, Jesus loved him. Isn't that love at first sight? Every time Jesus sets His eyes on you, love happens.

His love is more than wine. Yes, more than silver and gold! More than anything.

John writes, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son..." God's love is a giving love - giving and forgiving. God gives His best out of love. Love that doesn't give the best is suspect. God out of His love gives to meet a need. Man's main need was for the atonement of his sin. Man needed pardon and power. So God through the cross provided the pardon and through Pentecost provided the needed power. Pardon for sin and power over sin, and also the power of a new life in Christ.

I pray for our memory bank to be filled with the love of God. Love unimaginable and love worth remembering. As Paul makes us understand, God's love is deep and high, broad and long. It is ever-stretching into eternity, ever-expanding and encompassing, always deepening, and transcending the loftiest heights. It is love unfathomable and love beyond reason.

No earthly or human love comes close in comparison. It is more and sweeter than wine. His love restores our sanity, sanctity and dignity. In His love we find security and eternity, harmony and melody.

Let's remember His love more than wine and let's love Him more than "these" - Jh.21:15. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter