There has been much debate about what the Lord was referring to by the word ‘these.’ But whatever the meaning it surely implies that we ought to love our Lord Jesus above all things. We ought to “love him most” for His rich grace to sinners (Luke 7:42).

In December 1648 the Scottish Minister and Westminster Divine Rev. George Gillespie lay dying. The Saturday afternoon before he passed away, his dear friend Rev. Samuel Rutherford was welcomed into his death chamber. On seeing Gillespie, he said, “The day, I hope, is dawning, and breaking in your soul, that shall never, have an end.” The frail saint of God replied, “It is not broken yet; but though I walk in darkness and see no light, yet I will trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon my God!” Rutherford asked, “Would not Christ be a welcome guest to you?” He answered, “Welcome! the welcomest guest that ever I saw.” To which Rutherford responded, “Oh doth not your soul love Christ above all things?” He answered, “I love Him heartily: who ever knew any thing of Him but would love Him!”