Fourth Sunday of Advent - Love

On the fourth Sunday of Advent, we are reminded of God's love. Or maybe that should be Love, with a capital "L". It was God's Love, Jesus Christ, that came into our world so many years ago. We didn't deserve Him. We weren't ready for Him. When He came, we crucified Him. But still God's Love came into our world.

Charles Wesley captured something of God' love divine in a song that we don't normally think of as a Christmas song. But it shares the Christmas message.

Love Divine, All Lovea Excelling
Charles Wesley, 1701-1788

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.