MY JESUS, THE VERY

THOUGHT OF THEE

Oh, the great love of Jesus! Just thinking about Him makes me want more and more of His presence, to feel His embrace. I look back down the years and see His footprints all the way, guiding, protecting and loving me just as I am.

We live in such a day when men are rejecting the very God who created them and who loves them. We see terror and violence all around this troubled nation and our world. And men’s lives are filled with sadness and grief. I cannot imagine my life without my Lord and His love surrounding me. And I think of you out there, wondering if you are feeling the same way. The darker the world gets, the more we want to just cling to Jesus and lay our head on His breast and let the storm blow around us, safe and protected by the “Everlasting Arms.”

I was thinking along these lines when the thought came to find a hymn that reflects His love in these troubled times, and how we can draw near to Him as we wait for His Glorious Appearing, and continuing to work for Him and living for Him day by day, and listening to His sweet voice, and staying in His Word and prayer. I was led to this old, old hymn that expressed how I am feeling this moment about my Lord, and pray that you, too, will be blest and drawn closer to Him.  Here is the story: Jesus, The Very Thought of Thee.

This hymn was written nearly a thousand years ago in the middle of the time we sometimes call the Dark Ages. It was a dark time because it was riddled with extensive corruption among the leaders of the nations as well as leaders of the church.

In such a time, the life of Bernard of Clairvaux shines brightly, “knowing God,” he said “Is a matter of the heart.” It was a truth that dominated his life. At a very early age he was drawn to spiritual things. Largely influenced by the piety of his mother. At the age of twenty-two he entered a monastery at Citeaux, and three years later he founded a monastery at Clairvaux and served as its spiritual leader until he died in 1153.

In spite of his many pressing responsibilities and frequent travel, Bernard never lost sight of what he prized most – the love of Jesus. God’s love was Bernard’s lifeblood, pulsing through everything he said and did. His knowledge of God was deeply personal, a mystical love affair that not only gave meaning to his life on earth but formed his vision of heaven. As Bernard said, “[God] is Himself the reward of those who love Him, the eternal reward of those who love Him for eternity.”  (“Hymns” by Petersen)

JESUS, THE VERY THOUGHT OF THEE

Jesus, the very thought of Thee with sweetness fills my breast; but sweeter far Thy face to see, and in Thy presence rest.

Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame, nor can the mem’ry find a sweeter sound than Thy blest name, O Savior of mankind!

O Hope of every contrite heart, O joy of all the meek, to those who fall, how kind Thou art! How good to those who seek.

But what to those who find? Ah, this nor tongue nor pen can show; the love of Jesus, what it is

None but His loved ones know.

Jesus, our only joy be Thou, as Thou our prize wilt be: Jesus, be Thou our glory now, and through eternity. (Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153)

My dear friends, as I read the words in this precious hymn and the faith of this dear man, so many, many years ago, I only wish that I could live in the faith and love that this man did. Life is such a struggle sometimes, and we do live in troubled times as he did. We see that on every level. But so sweet to know that Jesus knows the desires of our hearts and how we long to draw in to His presence and let the world and its troubles go by. Don’t you long to feel His presence and to see His face?

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I am also known” I Corinthians 13:12.

Yes, we only see Him dimly, by faith. We only know just a glimmer of eternity and what God has planned for we who love Him, but someday all will be made clear, Oh, praise the Lord!

And just speaking His name brings such sweetness: “Jesus, Oh how sweet the name, Jesus, everyday the same, Jesus, let all saints proclaim its worthy praise forever.”

And when we fall, He is right there lift us up, and to those who seek Him will find Him right there waiting with open arms. But to those who find Him, pen cannot tell the love that each one of His loved ones feel when safe in His arms.

And our prize, to feel His wonderful presence now, but someday face to face at last and for all eternity, and I can hardly wait, how about you? I pray that you, too, know the love of this Wonderful Savior, who died for us that we would spend eternity safe in His arms.

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon