Value God and his love more than all the world, though there were millions of them. He valued you before the world, and therefore is beforehand with you in his love. He not only loved you from everlasting, (whereas your love is but of yesterday,) but in the valuation of it, he loved you before all worlds, and preferred you to all worlds: though you loved the world first, before you loved him.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of valuing divine love above all worldly desires.
Thomas Goodwin's quote reflects on the profoundness of God's love for humanity, suggesting that it transcends the fleeting affections humans have for the world. It encourages people to prioritize their relationship with God, who has loved them even before the creation of the world, over the temporary values and attachments of earthly life.
In practice
In a sermon on the value of divine love.
The Indwelling of Christ by faithis to have Jesus Christ continually in one’s eye, a habitual sight of Him. I call it so because a man actually does not always think of Christ; but as a man does not look up to the sun continually, yet he sees the light of it. So you should carry along and bear along in your eye the sight and knowledge of Christ, so that at least a presence of Him accompanies you, which faith makes.
Grace is more than mercy and love. It super-adds to them. It denotes, not simply love, but the love of a sovereign, transcendent Superior. One that may do what He will. That may wholly choose whether He will love or no. Now God, who is an infinite Sovereign, who might have chosen whether ever He would love us or no; for Him to love us, this is Grace.
Oh despise not election! therein lies all your hope, that there is a remnant who shall infallibly be saved.
Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up.
I suspect the most we can hope for, and it's no small hope, is that we never give up, that we never stop giving ourselves permission to try to love and receive love.
I love what I do. I was given the most incredible gift that can be given to anyone. I could never imagine a world without music, and I feel grateful that I've been given the ability to share that.
That kind of love - the kind you realize you already have by the life you've created together - that's the kind that lasts.
A good disposition is a virtue in itself, and it is lasting; the burden of the years cannot depress it, and love that is founded on it endures to the end.
But what is after all the happiness of mere power? There is a greater happiness possible than to be lord of heaven and earth; that is the happiness of being truly loved.
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