- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 18,404
God's incredible love for us
'take in...the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love' EPHESIANS 3:18
It's pretty well understood that many worship songs these days are written in order to sell CDs rather than help people express any deep emotions before the throne of God, but before the modern worship 'industry' began things were different.
George Matheson was told by his doctor that he was going blind. Still, he studied hard and despite deteriorating vision graduated from Glasgow University in 1861 at the age of nineteen. Just a few years later he lost his sight for good. To make matters worse, his fiance returned her engagement ring to him with a note that said, 'I cannot go through life bound by the chains of marriage to a blind man'. George never married, and never recovered from his broken heart.
Through all this though he became a successful pastor and led a fulfilled life. But just occasionally the pain of loneliness flared up, like at his sister's wedding. The ceremony brought back memories of the love he'd lost.
In response, he turned to the incredible love of God for comfort and wrote an amazing hymn of praise! Here's how it begins: O love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depth its flow may richer, fuller be. That's what worship is all about; praising God no matter what, because He's worth it!
written by Bob Gass
'take in...the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love' EPHESIANS 3:18
It's pretty well understood that many worship songs these days are written in order to sell CDs rather than help people express any deep emotions before the throne of God, but before the modern worship 'industry' began things were different.
George Matheson was told by his doctor that he was going blind. Still, he studied hard and despite deteriorating vision graduated from Glasgow University in 1861 at the age of nineteen. Just a few years later he lost his sight for good. To make matters worse, his fiance returned her engagement ring to him with a note that said, 'I cannot go through life bound by the chains of marriage to a blind man'. George never married, and never recovered from his broken heart.
Through all this though he became a successful pastor and led a fulfilled life. But just occasionally the pain of loneliness flared up, like at his sister's wedding. The ceremony brought back memories of the love he'd lost.
In response, he turned to the incredible love of God for comfort and wrote an amazing hymn of praise! Here's how it begins: O love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depth its flow may richer, fuller be. That's what worship is all about; praising God no matter what, because He's worth it!
written by Bob Gass
