JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF
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"Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope" 2 Thessalonians 2:16
"Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself." Oh, the Divine mystery of wondrous love and pity which is enwrapped in these few words!" The precious things of Heaven," "the chief things of the ancient mountains," and "the precious things of the everlasting hills" — are surely all gathered together here; and, with a deep and unutterable longing, my soul desires to search and find them.
That "Name which is above every name" is sung by angels as their sweetest song; but the tender earthly cadence which my heart hears in that emphatic word — "Himself" — intensifies its melody to me. Never before did a personal pronoun bear such significance, or convey to the heart so dear an assurance of perfect sympathy and love. We say sometimes of choice possessions, that they are our "very own"; and when we speak of You, dear Master, as "Jesus Christ Himself" there is an added fragrance in the "ointment poured forth," a personal realization of what You are to us in Your Divine Manhood, which draws us "with cords of a man, with bands of love." It brings You so close to me as my Savior — it seems to reveal You as the One who can "be touched with the feeling of our infirmities," and who sympathizes in all our sorrows — because You were "found in fashion as a man."
"Jesus Christ HIMSELF!" I say it over and over again until my soul is filled with its sweetness, and my heart is satisfied with the peace of believing — that this Blessed One is mine, and that He loves even me!
"God our Father!" Lord, help me to realize all that this wonderful relationship means to me! As Your child, I may claim all that You have promised to give. And if I am living and acting as Your child — dwelling with You, loving You, and obeying You — I shall assuredly find that Your Father love is ready to grant every reasonable desire of my heart.
Dear Lord, when I see, as I often do, some earthly fathers, whose love for their little ones is intense, forbearing, and unspeakably tender — I feel ashamed that I do not better understand the love of Your heart toward me — Your child through faith in Christ Jesus! Do You ask, "How much more?" I cannot work out such a sum, Lord! But I know that Your love must be infinitely greater, closer, and dearer — because You are the infinite God, and that You have loved me with an everlasting love!
Oh, that I may have the spirit of a little child — when I draw near to You! What little one is afraid to run to a loving father, and ask for all that it wants? Never a doubt rises in a child's mind, as to the supply of all his needs, and the direction of all that concerns him. The child has positively no anxious care for the present, no worry for the morrow, no fears for the past. It reasons, "Father knows everything. Father can do everything. Father provides everything. Father loves me!"
"Who has loved us!" O my soul, can you for a moment imagine what it would be of bliss, and rest, and peace — to live out day by day such a child-life in the love of the Father?
He knows me altogether! He understands all my individual peculiarities. He sees . . .
my perplexities,
my weakness,
my sore temptations,
my sinfulness, and
my daily shortcomings.
But He loves me — notwithstanding all! And not for any merit or worthiness in me — but because I am His redeemed child. I have believed on His dear Son, whom He gave to die for my sins; I have received His complete salvation; I have received the Spirit of adoption, and now, with confidence and perfect trust, I can look up to Him, and say, "Abba, Father!"
And does not this suffice to make me absolutely without worry — like a little child?
O my Father, teach me to realize how deep, and strong, and pitiful is the love of Your heart to me — since it led You to give Your only-begotten Son — Jesus Christ Himself — to redeem me, and bring me home to You, my God!
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