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Pastor's Blog March 19, 2020
"The Breathing of Unutterable Love"
{Scroll over scripture reference to read the scripture or reference.
For the last several weeks, we've been following the train of thought Ellen presents to us on sin and our need of a Savior. She has made it very clear that we are not to look at ourselves or even our own sinfulness, but rather look to Jesus. Nevertheless, I think the temptation we always bring to these kinds of discussions is to get discouraged: to, in fact, reflect on the insurmountable reality of our sin or meditate on our past failures to completely surrender our wills and lives to Jesus. And it is just this issue that Ellen addresses head on.
In "Steps to Christ," Ellen emphasizes over and over that love is supposed to take up our entire focus. When we are honest with ourselves and recognize "the enormity of sin" and how misaligned our lives have been with God, our inclination is to despair, doubt, and become disheartened (21; 1977 edition); instead, however, we need to focus on the truth that Jesus came to save sinners and that his death is the demonstration of God's love for us - and allow ourselves to be utterly amazed by the fact that God was not moved upon to send Jesus to die for us, but rather that God, who already loved us, expressed that love AS him giving Jesus to us on the cross and in his resurrection (22)!
Ellen claims God is constantly "wooing" us by his tender love, and he is single-minded in his desire and pursuit of those "He seeks to save" (22). Whether it is in soft words of consolation or stern words of judgment, "all His promises, His warnings, are but the breathing of unutterable love" (22).
So when we are discouraged or the devil haunts us with our sins, what should we do? How should we respond? Ellen points us to Jesus: "look up to your Redeemer and talk of His merits," not your sins; remind yourself and Satan that Jesus came into the world to save sinners, including you; speak often of the truth that you will be saved from sin "by His matchless love"; talk long and often of Jesus and his great love for you, of the fact that the love shared between Jesus and the Father has always been directed at your salvation, and that God's love is what creates and draws forth from you the love you have for him (22).
Friends, today is a good day to talk less of self, sin, and Satan, and talk much more of Jesus - to get lost in his matchless, incomparable love for us.
(*) Steps to Christ 1977 edition; Chapter 2, “The Sinner’s Need of Christ”
For these special times: Brothers and sisters, "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, 'Rejoice!' Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing: but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4-7, KJV).
God Bless.
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
