Five Days of Encouragement From Saints of OldSmakprov

## There Are a Thousand Ways We Experience God’s Love Every Day Each breath you breathe is his gift to you. But as the Puritan Isaac Ambrose reminds us, God’s love shines brightest at the cross. This is where we see the full extent of his love. It is revealed in the depths to which Christ was prepared to descend, leaving the glories of heaven for the shame of the cross. And it is revealed in who he endured the cross for. Anyone might love someone who is lovely, but only Jesus was prepared to die for his enemies. The glory of heaven will not be the splendor of our surroundings, nor the choirs of angels. The glory of heaven will be the wounds of our Savior. "Lord Jesus Christ, Your graces shine brightest in your bitter Passion. Your life was a gracious life, and you are full of grace. But as a lily seems most beautiful when among thorns, so your graces are best seen in your sufferings. Your humility was profound: that the most high God, the only begotten and eternal Son of God, should condescend so far as to be condemned, that you should be crucified upon a cross, between two thieves, as if you had been their ringleader. Oh, what humility was this! Your patience was wonderful. “ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats” (1 Peter 2 v 23). Oh, what patience was this! Your love was fervent. “ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4 v 10). Your love is the supreme example of love: the fire that should kindle all our sparks. Oh, what love was this!" -Isaac Ambrose (1604-1664)