Hymns With A Message: WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE

Sunday, February 11, 2018

WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE

This week many people will celebrate Valentine's Day. They will express their love to another by buying flowers, cards, candy, jewelry or going to a special restaurant or taking a romantic trip. If there is someone that you really care for or love, this is a good tradition to observe. But hopefully this isn't the only day of the year when you express your love to that special person. And if you do have one that you love, you are very fortunate and should never take that person for granted. But there is One who loves us far beyond any earthly love. We are reminded in Romans 5:8 that "God showed His love to us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!" That is an amazing, wonderful story of real love. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16. John Merritte Driver (1858-1918) was born in Illinois but I couldn't find much information about his background or his life. But after he attended Illinois Agricultural College and Boston University, he became a Methodist Episcopal preacher and served at the People's Church in Chicago, IL, from 1902 to 1907. He is credited with composing some 30 hymns. But he may be best known for writing the words of this week's hymn about God's love. In this hymn Driver summarized some pivotal points relating to the life and ministry of Christ which illustrate some aspects of God''s wonderful love. First, he dealt with the significance of the birth of Christ, when the shepherds heard the good news, "There is born to you … a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke. 2:11). Then comes His sacrifice on the cross, and the call to salvation through faith in Him (John. 3:16). Finally, there is His promised return to take us to our home, to the "many mansions" in heaven that He is preparing for us (John. 14:2-3). And that is a wonderful story of love. Unfortunately, sometimes we tend to forget about this love. We shouldn't need a special event like Christmas or Easter or Valentine's Day to be reminded of His love, it should permeate our minds and actions each day. May we daily thank Him for this wonderful love which He does demonstrate for us each day.

1 Wonderful story of love;

Tell it to me again;

Wonderful story of love;

Wake the immortal strain!

Angels with rapture announce it,

Shepherds with wonder receive it;

Sinner, oh, won't you believe it?

Wonderful story of love.

Refrain:

Wonderful! Wonderful!

Wonderful, wonderful story of love.

2 Wonderful story of love;