A wedding song of love known

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!