"The Love of God" by Frederick M. Lehman, 1917

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.

Refrain:

Oh, love of God, how rich and pure! 
How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure—

The saints’ and angels’ song.

When years of 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.

"The Love of God"

performed by George Beverly Shea 

A beautiful spring morning in 1989, sitting on a hotel balcony in Ponte Vedra, FL, looking out on an ocean without end and a cloudless sky, was the setting for a quiet time with a scripture from Ephesians 3:14-19:

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole 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 Yeshua Messiah 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 saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the Love of Yeshua Messiah, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

This overwhelming scripture, along with the breathtaking view of ocean and sky, the words of the last verse came so clearly to mind along with a heavenly glimpse of the magnitude of God’s amazing love!  Very few times does one experience such closeness to the awesome Elohim who created us in His image. How could one refuse so great a relationship of love and life through His Son, Yeshua Messiah?        

"Amazing Love"

performed by Chris Tomlin  

Chapter 5: God's Ultimate Love Gift

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16

Let us set the stage by looking at the events prior to the birth of Yeshua Messiah.  The Jewish period of independence ended in 63 B.C. thus beginning the rise of the Roman Empire, which ruled the known world at the time of Yeshua Messiah’s birth.  The world was in the deepest darkness, a cold and penetrating darkness, so extreme that the chosen were doomed without someone to save them.

The 1st chapter of Mattityahu opens with the genealogy of Yeshua Messiah, Son of David, Son of Avraham. (vs. 1-16), verse 17 reads, “Thus there were fourteen generations from Avraham to David, fourteen generations from David to the Babylonian Exile, and fourteen generations from the Babylonian Exile to the Messiah.  Mattityahu continues to give the lineage of how the birth of Yeshua Messiah took place.

The account of the genealogy in Luke, chapter 3, reverses the direction, starting with Messiah and listing the lineage back to God.

Let us come away from the stress and anxieties of life, to forget self and focus our mind and heart on being still before ADONAI.  These writings excel beyond all others, for it is God’s love-gift to mankind.  The shadow has been replaced with the real gift, so priceless, when received, one is willing to give up self and his ways and receive God and His way, life through His Son, Yeshua Messiah.

This is the account of Yeshua Messiah’s birth in Luke 2:1-20

“Around this time, Emperor Augustus issued an order for a census to be taken throughout the Empire.  This registration, the first of its kind, took place when Quirinius was governing in Syria.  Everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.  So Yosef, because he was a descendant of David, went up from the town of Natzeret in the Galil to the town of David, called Beit-Lechem, in Y’hudah to be registered, with Miryam, to whom he was engaged, and who was pregnant.  While they were there, the time came for her to give birth; and she gave birth to her first child, a Son.  She wrapped Him in cloth and laid Him down in a feeding trough, because there was no space for them in the living-quarters.

In the countryside nearby were some shepherds spending the night in the fields, guarding their flocks, when an angel of Adonai appeared to them, and the Sh’khinah of Adonai shone around them.  They were terrified; but the angel said to them, 

‘Don’t be afraid, because I am announcing to you Good News that will bring great joy to all the people.  This very day, in the town of David, there was born for you a Deliverer who is the Messiah, the Lord.  Here is how you will know: you will find a baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.’ 

Suddenly, along with the angel was a vast army from heaven praising God:

  ‘In the highest heaven, glory to God!

  And on earth, peace among people of good will!’

No sooner had the angels left them and gone back into heaven than the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go over to Beit-Lechem and see this thing that has happened, that Adonai has told us about.’ Hurrying off, they came and found Miryam and Yosef, and the baby lying in the feeding trough.  Upon seeing this, they made known what they had been told about this child; and all who heard were amazed by what the shepherds said to them.  Miryam treasured all these things and kept mulling them over in her heart.  Meanwhile, the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen; it had been just as they had been told.”

The heavens announced His arrival.  The brightness of the star led the way. The angels followed, praising and glorifying God; announcing peace on earth to the people of good will.  The grand entrance was made, but there was no room in the hearts of men. Sorry, I have no room for you in the living-quarters, but there is a stable you can use.  The King had arrived!! He was not dressed in royal robes, but in swaddling cloths. He had no castle, only a stable. He came, as King but became the Savior. But what He had was life-saving love that was freely given to those who chose to follow Him.

  

Then came love - the purest of loves, from the very heart of God; a part of Himself wrapped in swaddling cloths of forgiveness, mercy and grace.  Yeshua came to love, forgive, heal and set the people free!  Freedom!  A word the people had only talked about, but very few had experienced… Until a babe, innocent and perfect in every way, stepped down from His throne in heaven to become the Savior and Servant to a lost people.  He came to show each one, first hand, of a love so amazing, so divine, so sincere, but only through knowing Him can it ever be experienced.  

How? You say. Realize your sinful condition; repent of your sins; ask Yeshua for forgiveness; by faith believing, ask Yeshua to be your Savior and Lord. Believe and receive God’s Holy Spirit to live within your very soul.  He is the comforter who gives wisdom and direction for your life. Ones’ heart must be ready to meet the King, the Lord Almighty when He returns to set up His Kingdom.

Amazing love! There is no greater love than that of Yeshua or His Father God.  No greater gift has ever, or will ever, be given.

"Amazing Love"

performed by Newsboys

Immanuel: God With Us

Therefore Adonai Himself will give you people a sign: the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son and will call Him 'Immanu El [God is with us]. Yesha'yahu (Isaiah) 7:14