Love Led The Savior, In Days Long Ago

By George O. Webster

Lyrics

1. Love led the saviour, in days ago,
Down to earth's darkeness, its sin and woe;
Seeking the lost ones, His mercy to show,
Love led Him to Calvary.

Refrain:(Faster)
Love led Him to Calvary,
Love led Him to Calvary,
Love led Him to Calvary;
Seeking the lost, at the attermost cost,
Love led Him to Calvary.

2. Love for a manger, abandoned a throne,
Seeking the sinful, the sad the lone;
Yearning to win them and make them His own,
Love led Him to Calvary.

3. Seeking the soul in its infinite worth,
Stooping, in love, to the lowliest birth,
Seeking the lost in the byways of earth,
Love led Him to Calvary.

4. Longing, in pity, the lost one to save,
Braving the Garden, the Cross and the Grave,
Seeking this only, the sinful to save,
Love led Him to Calvary.

Bible Reference

Luke 2:7-11

About This Hymn

Love led the Savior, in days long ago, to a humble manger where the soft cattle low. These opening words draw the worshiper into the gentle scene of Christ’s birth, emphasizing that it was love, even before sacrifice, that brought Him into the world. The imagery is intimate and tender, inviting singers to contemplate the quiet, caring nature of the divine incarnation and the heart of God reaching out in love toward humanity.

As the hymn unfolds, it reflects on the responses of those first who received the news—the shepherds watching their flocks by night, awed by the glory that shone around them. The tone remains serene yet deeply emotional, encouraging worshipers to join in the wonder and awe of that holy night. The focus remains on love’s action and humility rather than on grandeur or spectacle.

In the closing stanza, the hymn turns from the manger to the broader meaning: love continues to lead believers today through every circumstance. It affirms that the same tender love which guided the Savior’s first steps also sustains the believer’s daily journey. Though brief in its depiction, the hymn’s verses provide a devotional progression from the historic event to the present, underscoring that love not only brought Christ to Bethlehem but also guides and comforts His people now.