Bless The LORD, O My Soul, Who In HIS LOVE And In HIS Pity Has Redeemed Me!

The love GOD has for us!

(James Smith, "Comfort for Christians!")

"And so we know and rely on 
the love GOD has for us! 
GOD is Love." (1 John 4:16)

The sweeter the truth--
the more backward we often 
are to receive and believe it. 
Therefore it must be presented 
to us again and again. 
What is more pleasant, 
than the fact that "GOD is Love"?

Yet so quickly we doubt it, 
or forget it, or fail to realize it. 
Therefore the Gospel presents 
it to us again and again, and 
in almost every possible form. 
Twice within the scope of a few 
verses, John tells us that 

"GOD is Love" (1 John 4:8,16).

Belief in this portrayal of GOD 
lies at the root of our holiness, 
happiness, and peace. To the extent 
that we believe that "GOD is Love"--
we will . . .
   consecrate ourselves to HIS service,
   enjoy peace in our consciences,
   and be happy in HIS ways.

GOD loves us, and therefore 
HE planned our salvation, 
sending HIS one and only 
SON to take away our sins 
by the sacrifice of HIMSELF. 

HE also sent HIS HOLY SPIRIT 
to teach us our need of CHRIST 
and lead us to HIM. And, finally, 
HE has put HIS blessed Word in our 
hands so that through the patience 
and comfort of the Scriptures, 
we might have hope.

GOD loves us--
and therefore HE . . .
   chastens us,
   strips us, and
   empties us.
HE will not let us live 
satisfied without HIMSELF.

GOD is Love--
therefore HE has provided 
an atonement for all our sins. 
HIS justice is satisfied, and 
Heaven is prepared for us!

Yes, though we were sinners 
by nature, and deeply feel it--
though we are not all that we 
wish to be, and deeply deplore it--
yet GOD loves us!

Bless the LORD, O my soul, 
who in HIS love and in HIS 
pity has redeemed me!

"This is LOVE : not that we loved GOD, 
but that HE loved us and sent HIS SON 
as an atoning sacrifice for our sins!" 
(1 John 4:10)

    ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

We have published Timothy Shay Arthur's 10 page story, "The Parkers".