February 13, 2005

My Savior's Love

Words and Music by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel, 1856-1932

     Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:1, 2.

    Historians have noted that the ancient Greeks expressed three levels of love:  Eros Love -- a "give me" kind of love; Philia Love -- a "give and take" kind of love, "You love me and I'll love you;" and Agape Love -- an "unconditional" kind of love, "I love you simply for who you are."
    Our Savior's love was agape love in its highest form. He loved us enough to leave heaven's best, to suffer humiliation and death for a world of rebellious sinners. Only when we are gathered in glory with the ransomed of the ages and see His face will we fully know the meaning of this divine love. In the meantime, however, the scriptural command is that we are to live a life of love that ministers to the needs of others as a "fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
    My Savior's Love was written by Charles Gabriel, the most popular and prolific gospel song writer of the 1910-1920 decade, which was the height of the Billy Sunday/Homer Rodeheaver evangelistic crusades. This song first appeared in the hymnal titled praises, published in 1905.

I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned, unclean.

For me it was in the garden He prayed, "Not My will, but Thine;" He had no tears for His own griefs but sweat drops of blood for mine.

In pity angels beheld Him, and came from the world of light to comfort Him in the sorrows He bore for my soul that night.

He took my sins and my sorrows; He made them His very own; He bore the burden to Calv'ry and suffered and died alone.

When with the ransomed in glory His face I at last shall see, 'twill be my joy thru the ages to sing of His love for me.

Chorus:
How marvelous! How wonderful! and my song shall ever be: How marvelous! how wonderful is my Savior's love for me!