HOW DEEP THE FATHER'S LOVE

We were having a family discussion about music a few weeks ago with our daughter and son in law.  They asked Jim to quickly name three of his favorite songs from his growing up years.  Jim is a literal whiz at remember old songs and the artists who performed them, so I knew he would have no problem.  The only one I remember him mentioning was “Till”, by the Angels, which was our wedding song. 

Maybe you would like to play along.  Let’s narrow it down a bit first.  Quick: name three of your favorite LOVE songs from your growing up years.  Go!

How did you do?  My list included, “Till”, of course, then  “Leavin on a Jet Plane”, by Peter, Paul and Mary; and “Your Song” by Elton John, the last two were popular when Jim was in Viet Nam, just three months after we were married.  It was a time of great longing for his presence.

Did you notice that my kids did not ask ME what my favorite songs were?  Know why?  They said they knew if they asked me, I’d just pick hymns and praise music because it’s all I listen to.  Kids, they never consider that you might have had a different life before they were born! 

I do love those wonderful love songs from the days when my love for my husband, and his for me, was new and full and deep.  As wonderful as human love is however, it cannot compare to the love God has for us, which is why I also love hymns and praise music and spend most of my listening time singing along to them these days. 

A favorite came on the other day while I was listening to Pandora.  It’s called, “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”, by Stuart Townend.  You can listen to it on YouTube if you like: https://youtu.be/YV2zMZ-nZ7k

The words to this song embody so much of what makes God’s love so personal, intimate, sacrificial and sweet to me. 

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Imagine.  The Father’s love for us is so great that it can’t even be measured. 

The Apostle Paul prays for the Christians in the Ephesian church to know the fullness of God’s love in this way.

(That) you may be able to comprehend with all (believers in Christ) what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  
(The Bible - Ephesians, chapter 3, verses 18-19)

Dr. David Jeremiah writes this about those verses:

The breadth of God’s love encompasses the world and all that are in it.  The length of His love extends from eternity past to eternity future. The depth of His love addresses the deepest needs of the human heart. And the height reaches to His very throne.

My favorite memory of those years when Jim was in Viet Nam was getting a MARS call, relayed to me from a radio operator there via a ham radio operator in the states.  We were nearing the end of our three minute call, saying our I love yous, when the Viet Nam radioman said to Jim, “You have time for one more I love you, sir.”  There was nothing like being awakened in the middle of the night to get a call from Jim and have him say, “I love you”. 

God the Father, however, did not just speak about His love on the pages of the Bible, He demonstrated His love, with a gift.  He gave His best, His only Son, as the song says, in order to save a wretch like you, like me. What made us wretches?  Sin.  We’re all tainted with it, with no possible way out, until God demonstrated His love toward us.

The Apostle Paul says in Romans, chapter 5, verse 8:

But God demonstrates His own love towards us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Do you ever wonder whether you could give your life for someone else’s - maybe your parent, or spouse, or your children, or a good friend? 

How about someone who wanted nothing to do with you – like your ex-wife or husband, your estranged relative?

Or someone who hurt someone one you loved – like a child molester, or a mugger, or a murderer?

God didn’t wait for you or me to clean up our acts to demonstrate His love for us.  No.  Jesus died for us while we were sinners!  When WE were the person who wanted nothing to do with Him.  When we were the ones who scorned Him.  When we were the ones who broke His commandments.

Who loves like that?  God does. 

Jesus willingly gave His own life for yours, so that you might be forgiven, so that you might become His treasure.  He endured separation from His Father while He hung on the cross so that you would never have to be separated from Him, EVER. 

Feeling like a wretch?  Then come to Jesus, who loved you and gave His life for you, just as you are.  He loves you that much. 

Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.

Stuart Townend Copyright © 1995