[Monday's Devotional] - The love of the Lord Jesus draw you to himself

Hannah and Olly Mears often use a blessing at the end of the service that, until they arrived, I had not heard before. Now the service often ends with the confident and joyful prayer that:

		The love of the Lord Jesus
		draw you to himself,
		the power of the Lord Jesus
		strengthen you in his service,
		the joy of the Lord Jesus fill your hearts;
		and the blessing …

 

I love it; but my enjoyment of this blessing has made me aware that I often haven’t listened to the blessing at all.  For me the blessing has been like the theme music at the end of a good TV program (Morse or Endeavour perhaps?).  It is beautiful, poetic and meaningful but ultimately it is the thing that stirs me to put the kettle on at home, or consider how I am going to negotiate my way through the body of Christ, leaving the pews, to the coffee and birthday cake at church. So this week, I want to focus on the words of this blessing and what they say to us. I also want to encourage us to focus on and swim in the blessing at the end of the service as a way of Christ ministering his love to us.

The love of the Lord Jesus draw you to himself. Just say that a couple of times to yourself and think about it. The love of the Lord Jesus draw you to himself. Just think of all those acts of mercy and healing performed by Jesus in the gospel. The love that Jesus has demonstrated to others, he feels as powerfully for you … insert name_________. Think of the arms stretched out for you on the cross. For you. The love of the Lord Jesus wants to draw you to himself. How does that make you feel? Are you going to let the love of Jesus draw you to himself? Will you let the prayer of the minister be answered in your heart? Will you let Jesus in more and more?

Becoming closer to Jesus can seem like an uphill struggle; being holy (set apart for Jesus) demands discipline and sacrifice. Well this is true, but we don’t do this in our own strength. We do this because we are drawn by the love of Jesus. The fundamental effort that we have to make is one of the heart. We have to want to be drawn in by the love of the Lord Jesus. Jesus will do the rest. We just need to want to be drawn to him and place ourselves and our lives within range of the magnet of his love.

If you want to pray this into your life again then do so now. J If you want to mediate on the love of the Lord Jesus then click on the link below. Love divine all loves excelling was my grandparents wedding hymn and Judy and I chose it for ours too. I vividly remember my grandfather in his final months quoting the final words of this hymn.

Until we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder love and praise.

Watch and listen here: Love Divine

John Martin-Jones