Samuel Trevor Francis was born on November 19, 1834, in a village north of London, but his parents soon moved to the city of Hull along the English Coast where his father was an artist. As a child, Samuel enjoyed poetry and even wrote a little volume of his own poetry. He also developed a passion for music, singing in the church choir as a child.  But as a teenager, he struggled spiritually, and when he moved to London to work, he knew things weren't right in his heart.

Later he wrote, “I was on my way home from work and had to cross Hungerford Bridge to the south of the Thames. During the winter's night of wind and rain and in the loneliness of that walk, I cried to God to have mercy on me. I stayed for a moment to look at the dark waters flowing under the bridge, and the temptation was whispered to me: ‘Make an end of all this misery’. I drew back from the evil thought, and suddenly a message was born into my very soul: ‘Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?’ I at once answered, ‘I do believe,’ and I put my whole trust in Him as my Savior.�

Francis went on to become a London Merchant, but his real passion was Kingdom workâ€" especially writing hymns and preaching in open-air meetingsâ€" which occupied his remaining seventy years. He traveled widely and preached around the world. He died on December 28, 1925, at age 92. His hymns were written with vivid and colorful words, allowing us to visualize God’s love for us!

Oh, the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!

 Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!

 Underneath me, all around me, is the current of thy love,

 Leading onward, leading homeward, to my glorious rest above!²

Suggested Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, how great is your love for us! You sent your only Son to die for our sins in an act of selfless love. Thank you for your mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1. John 3:16 (ESV).

2. “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus� hymn by Samuel Trevor Francis (1875).

Today’s Encounter was written by: Veronica B.