November 17, 2020

Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” John 21:16
Do you love me? In the movie, Fiddler on the Roof, Tevye asks his wife this question. You see, in breaking of tradition, all of his daughters were marrying for love. Tevye first met his wife on their wedding day, and for 25 years she had cooked, cleaned, and milked the cow for him; but did she love him? Jesus asks this question as well. Maybe for the past 25 years you have gone to church, tithed, and brought in a hotdish for potluck. But do you love Jesus?
Do you love Jesus? Peter was asked this question and today I ask you, do you love Jesus? Hopefully, the answer is yes, more than ever! I do not know a lot about William Featherston, just that he was born in Canada and died young, but I do know he loved Jesus. At age 16, he wrote this hymn:
My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I love Thee because Thou has first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree.
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
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I'll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

William Ralph Featherston, 1864

Matt Greven