TO KNOW LOVE THAT SURPASSES KNOWLEDGE

     The Salvation Army Songbook (SASB) is a treasure trove of inspirational poetry.  You may turn to the pages of the songbook and find inspiration for reflection.  Many of my personal favorite songs are written by one of the songbook’s most eloquent poets, Albert Orsborn (1886-1967), the  6th General of The Salvation Army.  Recently the heart of Albert Orsborn’s poetry has been captured in Rob Birks’ reflective book entitled Orsborn Again (Frontier Press, 2013).   Two lines in one of General Osborn’s songs (SASB 527) has me thinking more about the importance of knowing and acting deeply with one’s heart.

. . . the mind cannot show what the heart longs to know 

nor comfort a people distressed . . .

. . . Except I am moved with compassion, 

how dwelleth thy spirit in me . . .

    I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul to the Church at Ephesus (Eph. 3:19).  Speaking of the magnitude of Christ’s love and praying that they would “grasp” an understanding of that love, he writes “to know that love that surpasses knowledge.”

    Here’s the question then:  What kind of knowing surpasses knowledge?  It is not enough to know about Jesus. It is not enough to only embrace propositions about him and have a faith that is only cognitive.  Both the Apostle Paul and Albert Orsborn point us to an understanding of the heart,  to know at a deeper level, a level of heart felt intimacy with God.  This is a knowledge of the heart that truly grasps a deeply profound understanding of the enormous magnitude of God’s love in its fullness.  This gift of understanding is occasioned by the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence bringing illumination (head), compassion (heart), and life (service) together.

      Of course, Orsborn is speaking in the context of Salvation Army ministry and mission.  But more broadly, he addresses our faithfulness to the Great Commandment to love the Lord with all we have and to love our neighbor as ourselves.  This is a directive that cannot be obeyed by means of the intellect only.  Faith propositions won’t suffice.  The life of wisdom blended with compassion is only possible by God’s indwelling Holy Spirit.

Unless the Holy Spirit dwells, how could we have the fullness of love in our hearts and the power to compassionately love and “comfort a people distressed.”

Holy Spirit, 
promised presence 
fall on me 


Holy Spirit, make me all 
I long to be 


Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit 


Give Your pow'r to me, O Holy Spirit