Warner Sallman, a Christian painter from Chicago, painted Head of Christ in 1941. It is his most popular painting, being reproduced more than 500 million times. A print hung in our living room for a long time before being given to the church.
This Valentine's Day I am reminded that all earthly love pales in comparison to God's great love for mankind. Probably the most memorized verse in the Bible is John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Hymn writer Frederick Martin Lehman said it best in his hymn, The Love of God written in 1923. There are three verses but I particularly like the first part of verse 1 and all of verse 3.
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...
Chorus: O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure -
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.
Flowers will die, candy will be eaten, cards will eventually be thrown away, and earthly love will end, but God's love will never pass away!
Flowers will die, candy will be eaten, cards will eventually be thrown away, and earthly love will end, but God's love will never pass away!
Evangelist, Billy Graham, said the Bible is God's love letter to us, and how thankful I am for that love letter!
I recently read a quote by an unknown author that I have adopted as my prayer: "The cry of my heart is to become like the One who loves me with an everlasting love."
May God bless your week!
I grew up with that picture! And I love that song, especially when sung by the Gaither Vocal Band. On this day that celebrates love, it is good to remember Christ's love for us.
ReplyDeleteThat Billy Graham quote reminds me of something I read not long ago that said the Bible is the only book where the author is in love with the reader! (Or maybe I read that here? I read so much these days, I forget what I read where!) And while I love that hymn, I had not paid attention to that verse about "every man a scribe by trade." That's going in my book of writing-related quotes! Thank you!
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