A young man, anxious about his soul, lay upon his bed at midnight thinking about it.
Speaking to the Lord, he said, “LORD I WILL LOVE THEE.” But this gave him no solid satisfaction, and after a little more consideration he said, “LORD, I DO LOVE THEE”. Even this, however, brought him no real comfort. There was a lurking suspicion about both statements. But finally he reached solid and certain ground. As he dwelt on what Christ had done and suffered for him as a guilty sinner, he said to Him, “LORD, THOU LOVEST ME!” and his doubts dispersed and his soul found joyful satisfaction.
God FOR us. ― “If you ask a proof of God’s being for us; the proof is He gave His Son.” If I say, ‘What will He do for such a wretched sinner as I am?’ Why. He has done more than the greatest sinner could ask; more than the greatest saint could think of. He has given His Son for me. Therefore, not only have I done with everything that was against me ― with Satan and every accuser; but the very sin that made me tremble, becomes a witness of the extent of the love of Him who is for me. There it is I have learned it; for He has shown Himself for me in justifying me.
Therefore if God be for us in connection with our sins, we may freely count upon Him for all the rest. “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered up Him for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:3232He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)).
J. N. D.