More love to you on this Valentine's Day

Excerpt from Of Communion with God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost by John Owen (1657)

The Holy Spirit pours the love of God into our hearts (Rom. 5:5).

This refers to the love of God to us and not our love to God. It encompasses God’s love in accomplishing His purposes to do us good and His gracious love of acceptance and approval. Both these are called the love of God in Scripture. Now, how can these be poured into our hearts? By giving us a spiritual understanding of them. God pours the Holy Spirit abundantly on us who persuades us that God loves us so that our souls become filled with joy and comfort. This is His work and He does it effectively. To persuade a poor, sinful soul that God in Jesus Christ loves him, delights in him, is well pleased with him and only has thoughts of kindness towards him is an inexpressible mercy. [To persuade a man further that this delight continues forever is a consolation beyond belief].

This is the special work of the Holy Spirit and by this special work we have communion with the Father in His love, which is poured into our hearts. So not only do we rejoice in and glorify the Holy Spirit who does this work, but in the Father also, whose love it is. It is the same in respect of the Son, as the loving Holy Spirit takes the things of Christ and reveals them to us. What we have of heaven in this world lies in this work of the Holy Spirit who loves us. Happy Valentine’s Day.