How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
My eyes pricked with tears – tears seem to come frequently – as I choked out the words to the song. Grateful, humbling, overwhelming tears. The kind that come from deep joy, deep sorrow, and the awe of amazing grace. The joy that God would save me, the sorrow that my sin would cost Him so much, and the awe that He gave it all for me. How Deep the Father’s Love for Us we sang while taking the bread and the cup. Reminders of what He did for us. His body broken, His blood shed, to make “a wretch His treasure.”
Here are the words to that song:
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
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
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
As we sang, my sweet E, not yet eight-years-old, leaned in close.
“Mommy,” she whispered, her face bright and smile snaggletoothed, “my heart is on fire with joy.”
Through the tears I manage my own smile, my heart full as if God Himself had overfilled it, “Me too,” I barely choke. “Me too.”
Again I am humbled by the profound words my sweet girl utters. My heart on fire with joy…Joy that ignites my heart. Fire that burns away the pain of longing, regret. As Nehemiah says, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” (Neh. 8:10) We often forget that our strength lies in finding joy in God. Finding joy in the Lord leads us to live according to His word. Finding joy in the Lord leads us to live a life of love and grace. Finding joy in the Lord means our joy is not based on human experience, capricious feelings, or others’ choices. No our joy is found in Him who “does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1: 17)
Is your joy founded in the Lord today? Is your heart on fire with joy that He alone brings? Share the joy that has your heart right now. I can’t wait to hear about it.
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The Love of God will bring the toughest man to his knees in sobbing. How beautiful, indeed, is the Love of God.
By His Grace.
So true. Thank you for sharing! God’s love is amazing!
I am indeed finding joy in the Lord. I got to practice with the Quiz Bowl kiddos yesterday, and I beat the resident math expert at a computational question. It turns out the Lord still has blessed me with strong mental math abilities! =)
Isn’t it fun to see God work in you and through you? I bet you can be an encouragement and blessing to all those Quiz Bowl kids.
Beautiful! My heart is on fire with joy. Tell your daughter, her joy is contagious – and so is your beautiful heart for God, Angela!
I will tell my sweet E that her joy is contagious. She is such a blessing!
As for me, it is all for Him. I just pray my joy stays in Him that I may reflect His glory appropriately and not streak the reflection with pride. I can only do it through Him and I am finding that true more and more day after day. Praise Him that He would use me.
As for you Stephanie, you are an encourager and blessed by God with that gift. Thank you for blessing me today!
Your little girl’s comment, “my heart is on fire with joy” (quite a comment for a young child!) reminded me of life’s “fires” …… that, as a Christian, this joy you are speaking of is with us, within us, throughout all of life’s burdens, struggles, sadnesses – through all of life’s “fires”.
Yes another way to apply this truth. Thanks for sharing.
and also,i ask for wisdom and i dont feel any wiser.I dont feel like i am making any better choices than last time.But there is a gut feeling inside me right before i do something or right after i do it that i shouldnt have done it.sometimes i think that im over reacting and dont listen to it but some times i do.is this god?
Kaitlyn…I don’t often feel “wiser” when I ask for wisdom either, but then there is that “feeling.” If that “feeling” is on target with what God’s word says then most likely it is the Holy Spirit. Often He is telling you to ask for forgiveness or offer grace. I get those “feelings” right before I am tempted to act in anger. One way to know if it is not God, is if that “feeling” is condemning you. Saying you are not good enough or you will never please God or you are stupid to make that mistake again. God does not condemn us, because through Christ our penalty for sin has been paid.
Does that make sense? Praying for you more and more!