Two of my friends just got married! All of us graduated from the same college, were born within a month apart, and got involved in the same musical ensembles. Sharing an appreciation for good hymnody, the groom asked me to pen additional verses to "My Song Is Love Unknown," tying it into the wedding ceremony. Delving into Ephesians 5, I attempted to include more Lutheran - and Scriptural :) - concepts of love.
On this my wedding day
I praise this love divine
For sending me a friend
Who is now truly mine
Let me this love
For all our days
Share as it is is in heaven above.
And like this love, I pray
Help me to show it well
To this one dear to me
For all my days, and tell
His untold grace
His dying love
Until at last we see His face.
Lord Jesus, enter now
Our hearts this wedding day
Through Sacrament and Word
Guide us now and always
Your grace alone
By faith in You
Will bless and keep our joyous home.
Through Him this love is known
I share that love with you
And as He wills, may all our days
Spring forth that joy anew
By faith alone
He holds us dear
Until we reach His heavenly throne.
As Christ cherished his bride
So may I love my wife
Protect and care for her
As I do my own life
God, please impart
This strength to me
To sacrifice my selfish heart
Through human strength alone
I cannot show this love
The Spirit, yet, by faith
Endows it from above
The Father's Son
His love has giv'n
It is through Him our works are done.
Our marriage may He bless
Bestow with grace our home
Until we know as we are known
The holy Word
And Sacrament
Will guide us till we see our Lord.
"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1 John 3:16). We can know true love as it is revealed in God's Word - the simple Gospel message of Christ's substitutionary satisfaction which frees us from the power of sin. Understanding this supreme love makes for a different case - we cannot, in our sinful state, take in why He has elected us from eternity, but the Holy Spirit moves us to confess that it is true. Additionally, He promises to keep us in that grace and bring forth good fruits (such as love toward others) until we see Him face-to-face.
SDG, and enjoy!
SDG, and enjoy!
