A Devotion from Thomas Brooks

They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.  —Revelation 12:11

See that you love the Lord Jesus Christ with a superlative love, with an overtopping love.  None have suffered so much for you as Christ; none can suffer so much for you as Christ.

There is no love but a superlative love that is suitable to the sufferings of Jesus. Love him above your lusts, above your family, above the world, above all your outward contentments and enjoyments. Love him above your very lives, for thus the saints of old have loved our Lord Jesus Christ—with an overtopping love.

“Let fire, racks, pulleys,” said Ignatius, “and all the torments of hell come upon me, so I may win Christ.”

Love made Jerome say, “O my Savior, did you die for love of me? a love sadder than death, but to me a death more lovely than love itself. I cannot live, love you, and be longer from you.”

Sufferings for Christ are the saints’ greatest glory: “Your cruelty is our glory,” said Tertullian.

Certainly the more Christ has suffered for us, the dearer Christ should be to us. The bitterer his sufferings have been for us, the sweeter his love should be to us and the more conspicuous should be our love to him. Let him be your manna, your tree of life, your morning star.

Oh, that our hearts were more affected with the sufferings of Christ! Oh, the infinite love of Christ, that he would leave his Father’s bosom and come down from heaven so that he might carry you up to heaven; that he who was a Son would take the form of a servant; that you of slaves would be made sons and daughters, of enemies would be made friends, of heirs of wrath would be made heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; that to save us from everlasting ruin, Christ would stop at nothing, be willing to be made flesh, to be tempted, deserted, persecuted, and to die on a cross!

Oh, when will the sufferings of a dear and tenderhearted Savior kindle such a flame of love as will still be breaking forth in our words and in our ways, to the praise and glory of free grace? Oh, that the sufferings of a loving Jesus might at last make us all faint with love (Song 2:5).