Read 1 John 4:13-15. What happens when someone acknowledges that Jesus in the Son of God? “God lives in him (and he in God).”
Can you think of a time when you were suddenly awash with the magnitude of God’s love for you personally? Describe it.
“Beth’s story reminds me of [singing] ‘How Great Thou Art’ in my nightgown, but aside from feeling that the moment, the storm, and even the island and the lake had been created especially for me, and for that moment of worship, the moment was more about feeling His magnitude and total gloriousness than His love for me personally.
“Last Sunday, though, Easter Sunday, singing with The Glorious Unseen – ‘Oh, How He Loves Us’ – I was definitely feeling it. Afterwards, I mentioned the song to Randy, but I called it ‘Oh, How He Loves Me.’ He said ‘Us,’ it’s ‘Us,’ not ‘Me,’ and I realized aloud, ‘Oh yeah, I guess it is.’ I know I sang ‘us,’ but I think my heart and my soul were singing ‘me.’”
Dearest Rachel –
I’m mildly chagrined at this story; most of the time, when one of us corrects the other, it’s you regarding my grammar – I can recall plenty of times when you objected to my use of the term ‘ain’t,’ and I would respond by pointing out that there isn’t any other way to contract the phrase ‘am not.’ I always held that as long as the speaker and listener understood what was being said, grammar wasn’t all that important; I don’t recall if I actually ever said that to you, given your insistence on grammatical propriety, but if I did, I said it less often than I thought it, in the interests of harmony. Then again, I would tease you for the ‘grammar maven’ you were. All in good fun.
So to be reminded of me correcting you about something is somewhat embarrassing; especially since, as you remember it, I corrected you twice in fairly quick succession like that. Considering that I didn’t like being corrected on the finer points of grammar, it was inappropriate for me to turn around and be ‘that guy’ with you on this subject.
After all, the first verse did have us singing about His love for us in the first person singular. God’s love isn’t directed at us as a mass or community; it’s given to each of us individually, complete with an individual opportunity (or obligation, if you will) to respond to Him, either positively or negatively. We aren’t Christians because of the groups we hang out with or the circles we travel in; our individual faith is what brings us to him. When we think of God’s love toward us, we ought to think of it as a very personal thing (although I admit that it’s not always easy, especially given that we don’t see or hear Him down here; I imagine that your relationship toward Him is much more direct now, being in His physical presence in a way that we can’t perceive on this side of the plane).
Anyway, I had to look up the lyrics to the song, as it’s been so long since we sang it in church. I think I remember that, when the group actually performed it here, they acknowledged that one of the lines didn’t feel right, and sang a modified version, which I present below. Those that know the song will recognize the change; it would be interesting to find out whether people think it’s an improvement or not (I rather do, or I would have used the words as recorded. Of course, maybe that’s because you tend to prefer the version of a song you first hear when you’re introduced to it).
He is jealous for me
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
And I realize just how beautiful You are, and how great Your affections are for me
Oh, how he loves us so
Oh, how he loves us
How he loves us so
We are His portion; and He is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean – we’re all sinking
Then heaven meets earth and my soul can’t resist
My heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about…
The way…
He loves us
Oh, how he loves us
Oh, how he loves us
How he loves us so
Admittedly, I also had to refresh my memory because I was thinking of the song “Oh, How He Loves You and Me” when I first read this entry (“He gave His life, what more could He give?”) – a completely different song with a very different tone. I’m sure either one could overwhelm one when singing it, but it’s more meditative and contemplative than the energetic and earnest song you’re referring to.
I still wish I could have seen you singing “How Great Thou Art” into the storm on Middle Bass; it’s an amazing picture (and not a difficult one, interestingly enough) to imagine. I know that you wouldn’t have done it when Daniel or I were awake for just that reason, but it does seem very much like you. I suppose that you’re doing that very thing nowadays with much less compunction to do so secretly, but it’s still a scene I’m missing out on. I guess, when eternity finally arrives for me, I’ll get to see you do it once again.
Until then, honey, keep an eye on me, and wish me luck. I’m going to need it.
Letters to Rachel 