Five Days of Encouragement From Saints of OldSmakprov

## We Have a Singing God! It’s an Amazing Thought The infinite love of God is seen most clearly at the cross. That’s where we see the vast gulf between our provocations and the price Christ paid to redeem us. But this, says the 18th-century English theologian Anne Dutton, was not the end of Christ’s love. Christ not only rescues us from sin; he also embraces us as his bride. He takes delight in us. He rejoices over us. He sings his love to us. A compassionate person might take pity on a hideous creature, but only Christ would take us as his own, embrace us in our ugliness, and beautify us through his grace. Can you hear his love song to you? It comes to you today in the gospel message. And it is embodied in bread and wine. "Lord Jesus, we blush with shame, for though we are the objects of your heart’s delight, we wound and pierce you daily by our sins. To our shame we count you unworthy of us, though we are poor, base, little selves, and yet you gave your great, glorious, matchless Self for us and to us! But, oh, even this is not the end of your love. For to show your glory and reveal your heart, you kiss and embrace us! You rejoice over us with joy and singing (Zephaniah 3:17), as if we were altogether lovely and delightfully fair! Though you are our God and our Maker, we hear you say: “You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:9). “How beautiful you are and how pleasing, my love, with your delights!” (Song of Songs 7:6) This is your voice to the most vile, ungrateful worms whom you love and call your bride! Oh, what dark creatures we are, and yet you call us fair and your fair ones! Oh, stupendous grace! Wonder at it, you blessed angels! Praise Emmanuel’s love, you winged flames! Oh, that our hearts would melt and break and be filled with love, under this all-penetrating, all-subduing, all-surpassing love! Glory to the Lord our Lover!" -Anne Dutton (1692-1765)