'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 27

As we grow in the knowledge of Christ's love, we enjoy more of the fullness of God. In heaven we will know fully what we now only know in part (1 Cor. 13:12). Although the love of Christ surpasses our present knowledge, we may know enough to feed us in this life and whet our appetite for more in the life to come. We have enough to guide us through our pilgrimage on earth, and an abundance reserved for us in heaven. Christ's love has depths in which the daring soul may drown, and abundant shallows for the humble to safely wade. Though our knowledge of Christ's love is imperfect, we may know enough to shame us that we have not loved him more. His love allowed him to suffer the most dreadful things on our account. As we reflect upon it, it is with great shame that we have been so weak to suffer for his name. The argument (in 1 John 3:16) is very strong: if Christ laid down his life for us, we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But how weakly does it work upon us! The love of Christ was a conquering, triumphant love. It bore down whatever stood in its way. It grappled with the displeasure of God, with the malice of devils, the fury of unreasonable men, and with the unkindness of his friends. It broke through all discouragements, and trampled upon all oppositions. The waters could not quench it, and the floods could not drown it. So much we know, and we blush that our love to Christ is so easily quenched, discouraged, and disheartened. Though we cannot attain the fullness of the fountain of his love, we may receive a fullness of the vessel from the fountain. Let us pray that we may know more of the love of Christ, and be filled with the fullness of God.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
Vincent Alsop, Puritan Sermons 1659-1689, IV:285-312
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