July 2026, Song of the Month - Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

“The motive for loving God is God himself. He is as well the efficient cause as the final object of our love. He gives the occasion for love, he creates the affection, he brings the desire to good effect… Our love is prepared and rewarded by His. He loves us first, out of His great tenderness; then we are bound to repay him with love; and we are permitted to cherish exultant hopes in him.” —  "On Loving God" by Bernard of Clairvaux

SCRIPTURE:
Ephesians 3:16-19, Isaiah 57:15

"Jesus the Very Thought of Thee” was originally penned by Bernard of Clairvaux in the 1100s. The son of a knight, Bernard grew up with wealth, power, and opportunities. Instead of pursuing these things in his adult life, however, Clairvaux abandoned his earthly luxuries and became a monk. In this hymn we can see how devout and sincere Clairvaux was. The text expresses the feeling of joy and bliss that only Christ can provide. - Hymnary

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​Echoing the worshipful devotion found in David’s Psalms, “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee” uses simple language to declare our Savior’s praiseworthy attributes. The hymn invites the worshipper to surrender every worldly care and celebrate the One who gave His life for us.

Bernard of Clairvaux believed in loving God, for who He is, without limitation. This conviction rang true throughout Bernard’s life, whether he was worshiping, teaching, serving, or writing. In one of his most famous books, still in circulation today, Bernard describes his passion for loving God in a way that beautifully illustrates the heart behind his hymn “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee.”

“The motive for loving God is God himself. He is as well the efficient cause as the final object of our love. He gives the occasion for love, he creates the affection, he brings the desire to good effect… Our love is prepared and rewarded by His. He loves us first, out of His great tenderness; then we are bound to repay him with love; and we are permitted to cherish exultant hopes in him.” — On Loving God
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