The Love Of God
Ephesians 3:17b-19 - And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and
high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses
knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
(NIV)
A story is told about a father and his son who were minding their sheep in the
highlands of Scotland one spring night. The young son tugged at his father's
pant leg and asked, "Daddy, how big is God's love?" The father stopped a moment
and then pointed and explained, "Son, beyond these gigantic mountains to the
south and farther than the eye can see is England." "Aye," said the boy. Then
the dad turned, pointed, and said, "And to the north and beyond, farther than
the eye can see is the great Atlantic Ocean." "Aye," said the son. The father
hesitated a moment and then said, "Well son, God's love is bigger than both
those distances." The young son looked amazed, and with a Scottish smile on his
face and looking directly into his father's eyes, he said, "Oh daddy, isn't it
wonderful! We're standing right here in the middle of it!" With tears in his
eyes, the father picked his son up and hugged him.
We, too, are standing in the middle of God's great love. Let us acknowledge Him
as the giver of all gifts, His greatest ones being forgiveness, compassion, and
love. I personally was touched by these gifts when we lost our first-born son in
a car accident nine years ago. I was broken-hearted, full of sorrow, and almost
unable to go on. My face felt frozen, and I could not laugh, sing, or even begin
to enjoy having the marvelous blessing of being with my second son, my
daughter, and their beautiful families. One night after a family gathering,
forlorn and distraught, I went to my bedroom, fell down on my knees again, and
asked the Lord to please, please, carry me through this time of hurt and despair
and be with me during my grief-stricken, lonely days and my long, silent,
tearful nights. My Lord knew the burden I was carrying, weary and exhausted from
trying to be upbeat for the rest of my family. I felt His loving arms wrap
around me and I heard Him say to me, I am here with My love for you, and I will
take care of you. And He did! He listened to my cries of woe and wiped the tears
I shed for my son from my eyes. He blessed me by assuring me that though I did
have to "get on with life", it was okay for me to be sad and to cry. I knew He
understood how my heart ached, for He, too, had watched His mother weep at the
foot of the cross because she loved Him.
I knew that God is in control, that all things work together for good for those
who love Him, and that our God would see us through the rough waters. That night
I was reminded of a song we sang when I was a little girl:
Wide, wide as the ocean, High as the heaven above, Deep, deep as the deepest sea
Is my Saviour's love.
My Saviour's love was and is present in my life, and over time, I have become
stronger, still missing my boy and the wonderful time we spent together as a
family, but knowing who to go to on a sad and hurtful day, because I remember
God's love is wider than the wonderful land of Scotland, higher than those
mountains, and deeper than the great Atlantic Ocean.
Prayer: Eternal Lord and friend, humbly we thank You for Your gift of love. You
and You alone are the one who can make our days of despair turn into days of
relief from our cares and provide us with a new-found love because of Your
patience, guidance, and love that is deeper than the ocean and wider than the
east is from the west. You and You alone give us spiritual strength in time of
trouble and hopelessness. You alone are the giver of salvation to all who love
You. We thank You because You are always there, ready to come to our rescue when
we call upon You. Thank You, Lord. Amen.
Azalia Matheson stapmath@eastlink.ca
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca