Five Days of Encouragement From Saints of OldSample

In today’s prayer, Charles Spurgeon marshals all his considerable powers of oratory to express the love of Christ.

He tries to quantify Christ’s love by measuring the distance between what he came from and what he came to: “from the height of majesty in glory to the depths of shame on earth”.

But Spurgeon, like Paul in Ephesians 3, readily admits that describing Christ’s love cannot be done.

Yet, even though Christ’s love is something that “surpasses knowledge”, Paul still prays that his readers might “know this love”. We will never bottom out Christ’s boundless love. But we need to see more and more of his love.

Every time we sin, we need to appreciate afresh this love that welcomes sinners.

Every time we suffer, we need to appreciate afresh this love that mysteriously works all things for our good. Every time we face temptation, we need to appreciate afresh this love that captures our hearts.

"Your love, O Christ,

in its sweetness,

its fullness,

its greatness,

its faithfulness

surpasses all human comprehension.

Where shall language be found

which shall describe

your matchless love,

your unparalleled love,

toward the children of men?

Your love is so vast and boundless

that, as the swallow skims the water

without diving into its depths,

so all descriptive words

merely touch the surface of your love,

while depths immeasurable lie beneath.

For your love took you

from the height of majesty in glory

to the depths of shame on earth.

The most inspired mind

must utterly fail to fathom this love.

Here is love!

And truly it is love

that surpasses knowledge.

Oh, let this love fill our hearts with adoring gratitude

and lead us to practical manifestations of its power."

-Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)