Song of Solomon 1:7

It is good to be able, without any “if” or “but,” to say of the Lord Jesus, “You whom my soul loves.” Many can only say of Jesus that they hope they love Him; they trust they love Him; but only a poor and shallow experience will be content to stay here.

No one should give any rest to his spirit until he feels quite sure about a matter of such vital importance. We should not be satisfied with a superficial hope that Jesus loves us, and with a bare trust that we love Him. The saints of old did not generally speak with “buts,” “ifs,” “hopes,” and “trusts,” but they spoke positively and plainly.

“I know whom I have believed,” says Paul. “I know that my Redeemer liveth,” says Job. Get positive knowledge of your love for Jesus, and do not be satisfied until you can speak of your interest in Him as a reality, which you have made sure by having received the witness of the Holy Spirit and His seal upon your soul by faith.

True love for Christ is in every case the Holy Spirit’s work and must be worked in the heart by Him. He is the efficient cause of it; but the logical reason why we love Jesus lies in Himself.

Why do we love Jesus? Because He first loved us. Why do we love Jesus? Because He gave Himself for us. We have life through His death; we have peace through His blood. Though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor.

Why do we love Jesus? Because of the excellency of His person. We are filled with a sense of His beauty! an admiration of His charms! a consciousness of His infinite perfection! His greatness, goodness, and loveliness, in one resplendent ray, combine to enchant the soul until it is so enraptured that it exclaims, “Yea, He is altogether lovely.”

Blessed love this is—a love that binds the heart with chains softer than silk, and yet more firm than adamant!