Who could have thought!
(James Smith, "The Love of Christ!
The Fullness, Freeness, and Immutability of the Savior's Grace Displayed!")
scorned by men and despised by
the people!" Psalm 22:6
How wondrously did JESUS display
HIS love, when HE . . .
assumed our nature,
took upon HIM the form of a slave, and
was found in appearance as a man!
What love--to stoop so low as to . . .
What love--to stoop so low as to . . .
be conceived in a virgin's womb,
be brought forth in pain, and
experience all the weakness
and ignorance of infancy!
Yes, HE was brought forth in poverty--
a stable for HIS birth-place, and
a feeding-trough for HIS bed!
HE passed by the palaces of the noble,
and the mansions of the great--
yes, even the comfortable
cottages of the poor--
and was born in circumstances
of misery and degradation!
Who could have thought, if they
had entered that stable and seen that
infant nursing on HIS mother's bosom--
that that infant was the mighty GOD,
the everlasting FATHER, and
the PRINCE of PEACE!
That all the fullness of the Godhead
dwelt in that little babe!
That it was love--
incomparable and inconceivable love,
which brought Deity and humanity
together in such a wonderful and
indescribable union!
This is the mystery of Godliness--
the mystery of LOVE!
HE left . . .
the bright abodes of blessedness and glory,
the songs of Cherubim and Seraphim,
the bosom of HIS FATHER, and
the infinite delights which HE
had eternally enjoyed--
to be a worm and not a man;
to be scorned and despised by all!
What privations HE suffered, even from
the very beginning of HIS career on earth!
What pain HE endured--
from HIS birth unto HIS death!
HE went sorrowing, sighing, and groaning--
from the stable, to gloomy Calvary; where HE . . .
finished HIS work,
proved HIS love,
conquered HIS foes,
delighted HIS FATHER, and
merited everlasting honors and
glories for HIS people!
JESUS was once a helpless infant,
a feeble child; and yet, at the same moment--
HE was the Almighty, the self-sufficient GOD!
O mystery of MERCY!
Here is love beyond measure and degree!
O my soul, admire and adore!
~ ~ ~ ~
GraceGems has published Robert Trench's uplifting short article,
"The Beneficent Design of Affliction!"
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