'Tis Now, I Love You More

For some unknown reason I once asked my grandfather about death.

"Grandpa, what are you going to do when you have to cross that river?"

He understood immediately what I was asking and without hesitation replied, "I'm going to give it everything I got."

His eyes radiated with passion and hope. Death was nothing to this aged and wise man. The love of God so made him want to rush through the darken, cold waters to greet Him.

I'm reminded of a poem written by William R. Featherston who penned My Jesus, I Love Thee at age 12 or 16. When he died at 27 years old, his aunt sought publication and much later it was put to a melody.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

Everyday we learn to die to ourselves so that we may walk more fully in the Spirit of Christ. We may need to cross a raging river like Joshua to enter into the promises that God has us awaiting on the other side. Beloved, we only live fully when we surrender completely to His will.

If ever we must love Him when we can't explain the trials and pain in our lives that serve to mortify our flesh; tis now we must love Him.

When was the last time you looked heavenward and whispered, "I love you, Jesus. I really love you." How the heart of God aches to hear one less voice cursing or accusing Him to hear someone say simply I love you. It moves His heart to compassion. He draws near to that voice that ask no petition or want to be granted but just confess his or her love for Him.

1 John 4:19 says, "We love him, because he first loved us." (KJV). When we grasp that truth that He loved us first will cause our love for Him to increase.

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

If you are need or want today...
Suffering pain or weary in body or mind..
When words fail in prayer and complaining rises....
Or relationships turn bitter and hurtful....

Tis now, we must love Him even more.

Love Him, saints, love Him with all your heart.