By Brother Tom Albin

I grew up in a small Methodist Church in Quinter, Kansas. This was before the merger with the Evangelical United Brethren Church in 1968 that gave birth to The United Methodist Church. In those days we sang a few hymns by John Wesley and many by his younger brother, Charles Wesley. This hymn was first published in 1747 in the volume entitled Hymns for those that seek and those that have Redemption in the Blood of Jesus Christ.

The hymn, “Love divine, all loves excelling” had an energy, power and theology that attracted me. You could even say that it sang its way into my heart and life. I found myself praying the words, which is exactly what Charles Wesley intended—the hymn was his prayer, it is my prayer, and perhaps you will want to pray it as well.

I invite you to read the words of this hymn, then perhaps sing it or listen to it online.

1. Love divine, all loves excelling,
   Joy of heaven, to earth come down;
   Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
   All thy faithful mercies crown!
   Jesus, thou art all compassion,
   Pure, unbounded love thou art;
   Visit us with thy salvation;
   Enter every trembling heart.
2. Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
   Into every troubled breast!
   Let us all in thee inherit;
   Let us find that second rest.
   Take away our bent to sinning;
   Alpha and Omega be;
   End of faith, as its beginning,
   Set our hearts at liberty.
3. Come, Almighty to deliver,
   Let us all thy life receive;
   Suddenly return and never,
   Nevermore thy temples leave.
   Thee we would be always blessing,
   Serve thee as thy hosts above,
   Pray and praise thee without ceasing,
   Glory in thy perfect love.
4. Finish, then, thy new creation;
   Pure and spotless let us be.
   Let us see thy great salvation
   Perfectly restored in thee;
   Changed from glory into glory,
   Till in heaven we take our place,
   Till we cast our crowns before thee,
   Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

The Bible is clear, God is love (1 John 4:8). Jesus, the Son of God—is love incarnate. And the Holy Spirit is the same Spirit that was in Jesus—now given by Him to all who believe.

This week, I pray you will invite God to pour more of the Holy Spirit into your heart and life (Romans 5:5), so you can experience what Charles Wesley describes in this hymn—full salvation—the recovery of the image of God—true Christlikeness. This is the life we were created to live. This is God’s desire for each of us—His children.

Prayer: Lord, increase in me the desire to love you
and live in you and to allow you to live in me—
through the Holy Spirit given to us by your Son,
our Savior—Jesus Christ.

Finish then thy new creation,
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see thy great salvation
Perfectly rested in thee.
Change from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Amen!