For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky. – Frederick M Lehman*
This hymn, written at the beginning of last century, captures the wonder of the love of God whilst admitting that we will never be able to full comprehend or express it fully. Every time we find a new depth, a new facet, we realise there is yet more to be discovered. The more we know, the more we want to know. God’s love draws us further and further into His heart, and there we find deeper and deeper joy.
Lehman wrote the first two verses of the hymn, but the third, he said, was written by an inmate on the wall of his cell in an asylum. It, in turn, was based on an Aramaic poem. We can only imagine the circumstances in which this inmate wrote these words, but I wonder whether, even in his insanity, he managed to cling to and experience God’s love for him. His life was likely filled with pain and mental torment, and even in the dank, joyless cell, was this hope: the love of God that could not be written by all the ocean’s ink or contained on the skies of the world; even for him. Even in his condition, in his circumstances, he could not be separated from the love of God.
What can we say, in response to such a love that would break through any circumstance, any power, any obstacle, the love that will always find its way to us? What can we say, but to offer praise and thanksgiving to our God, whose love triumphant brought us to life? What can we do, but gaze more deeply, experience more richly, that infinite love which called us and justified us?
As we conclude this year’s prayer and fasting, I wonder how you have seen God’s love anew or more clearly. How have you seen the ways you turn away from His love whilst you have fasted? Have you seen Him more richly in the space your fasting has created? Has your love for Him deepened and widened?
Take some time to speak to God about what He would like you to (practically) take from this time. Are there habits that have now been broken that you could leave behind? Are there new disciplines that you should instate? Is God challenging you about other habits or practices?
Most of all, if you have developed more consistent rhythms of time with God, consider how you will continue to meet with Him. If you would like help to find resources for devotions, please reach out to your pastors or leaders.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. – Ephesians 3:14-21
*if you’re curious, the traditional hymn is sung by Gaither Music. I enjoy a version by Ascend the Hill. MercyMe has also recorded this hymn.
