A Gospel Song Devotion for 20 October 2020 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
Today’s Gospel song devotion arose from a special memory re-enacted in Statesville yesterday at the graveside of Betty Hoffman by Cinder, Chery, and Jim. They gathered to memorialize Betty’s life on what would have been her birthday. They sang this Gospel song that was also sung over Betty’s passing on May 5, 2017 – ‘MY SAVIOR’S LOVE.’ The author of this piece is Charles H. Gabriel. Mr. Gabriel also composed the tune. It was written in 1905. This song is not in the 1940 Hymnal since it is not a classical hymn. It is not suited as a worship song since it lacks strong biblical reference; however, it is intended as a devotional piece evoking strong emotions of reverence and love. ‘MY SAVIOR’S LOVE is perfectly suited and recommended for a Good Friday devotion, and Betty went to be with her Lord on Friday.. It is the last song Betty’s ears heard ere she passed beyond the Gates of Splendor where she may have been welcomed by the Heavenly Host singing the same.
MY SAVIOR’S LOVE.
I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene
And wonder how He could love me
A sinner, condemned, unclean
REFRAIN:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!
He took my sins and my sorrows
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary
And suffered and died alone (refrain)
When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see
‘Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me (refrain)
I stand amazed in the presence Of Jesus the Nazarene And wonder how He could love me A sinner, condemned, unclean. It is a wonder in itself that we could be amazed at the Love of Christ for while we were yet sinners. He died to certify the profundity of that immeasurable love; however, the human mind could never comprehend the depth of that love in this life. We were walking dead ere the Holy Ghost sounded our names calling us to eternal life. Like Barabbas, we stood condemned of our sin, but Christ bore the penalty for our sins on that hateful instrument called the cross. “1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:1-9
The change salvation evokes in us is immediate and visible. Our desires will have changed, our behavior will have changed, and our humility will be manifested much like that of the publican at the Temple. “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14
He took my sins and my sorrows He made them His very own; He bore the burden to Calvary And suffered and died alone. Death is a doorway to eternity. We all must enter that door alone and face our Maker on the other side – either to eternal glory or eternal damnation. Christ must have died alone in order to redeem us. He must have been buried. He must have defeated death and Hell, and He must have risen to complete that marvelous work of salvation. It was all His work and none of our own.
When with the ransomed in glory His face I at last shall see ‘Twill be my joy through the ages To sing of His love for me. How were we ransomed, and from what? We all were serving a life’s indenture to sin. None of us had the means to purchase our freedom – only Christ, being sinless, could do so. “23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” Romans 3:23-24 and “23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23 Our worship services in heaven will have no time limits for there is no time-scale in Heaven. Our fellowship begins the moment we cross the threshold of Heaven and will have no end. What a privilege to meet our Maker face-to-face, then the other saints whom we have loved as well as read.
This stanza is fully explained in the following text: “ 9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Revelations 7:9-17
REFRAIN:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful! And my song shall ever be: O how marvelous! O how wonderful! Is my Savior’s love for me! The refrain is merely a summary of all the reverence, hope and love the song embodies in its entirety.
