O love divine, how sweet thou art!
When shall I find my longing heart
all taken up by thee?
I thirst, I faint, I die to prove
the greatness of redeeming love,
the love of Christ to me.
Stronger his love than death or hell;
its riches are unsearchable:
the first-born sons of light
desire in vain its depth to see;
they cannot reach the mystery,
the length and breadth and height.
God only knows the love of God;
O that it now were shed abroad
in this poor stony heart!
For love I sigh, for love I pine;
this only portion, Lord, be mine,
be mine this better part.
For ever would I take my seat
with Mary at the Master’s feet:
be this my happy choice;
my only care, delight, and bliss,
my joy, my heaven on earth, be this,
to hear the Bridegroom’s voice!
Thy only love do I require,
nothing on earth beneath desire,
nothing in heaven above:
let earth and heaven, and all things go,
give me thine only love to know,
give me thine only love.
Charles Wesley, 1749
Read Ezekiel 36:24-28
“Love Divine” dares to consider the depth of God’s love for us. It is far beyond the strongest human bonds. It defies understanding. It is boundless and unending. It is our very life. In summary, “[L]et earth and heaven, and all things go,
give me thine only love to know,” is Wesley’s prayer. May it be ours as well.