How amazing is the love of God
Although I was only 12 years old at the time, I can still vividly remember my father and grandfather, who were very happy about me because I had brought home all `` ones '' (the best grades) in my school report. As a reward, my grandfather gave me an expensive-looking alligator leather wallet and my father gave me a $ 10 note as a deposit. I remember how they both said they love me and are lucky to have me in their family. I also remember taking coins out of the piggy bank and exchanging them for a dollar bill. Together with the $ 1 bill, my wallet looked full. That's when I knew I would feel like a millionaire at the penny candy counter.
Whenever June approaches Father's Day, I think of those gifts (Father's Day is celebrated in many countries on the third Sunday in June). My memory is back and I think of my father, my grandfather and the love of our heavenly Father. But the story goes on.
It had been less than a week since I received the wallet and the money when I lost both. I was completely devastated! They must have fallen out of my back pocket when I was at the cinema with friends. I've searched everything, kept walking my way; but despite several days of searching, the wallet and the money were nowhere to be found. Even now, after around 52 years, I still feel the pain of loss - material value is not my concern, but as gifts from my grandfather and father they meant a lot to me and were of great personal value to me. It is interesting that the pain soon passed, but the beautiful memory of the loving appreciation that my grandfather and father showed me through it stayed alive in me.
As much as I appreciated their generous gifts, it was the love my father and grandfather showed me that I remember most fondly. Doesn't God desire the same for us—that we joyfully embrace the depth and richness of his unconditional love? Jesus helps us grasp the depth and breadth of this love by illustrating it with the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. These parables are recorded in Lukas 15 and illustrate the passionate love of the heavenly Father for his children. The parables point to the incarnate Son of God (Jesus), who came to us, sought us out, and brought us home to his Father. Jesus not only reveals his Father to us, but also the Father's longing to enter into our lostness and bring us into his loving presence. Because God is pure love, he will never cease calling our names in his love.
The Christian poet and musician Ricardo Sanchez put it this way: The devil knows your name, but speaks to you about your sins. God knows your sins, but addresses you by name. Our Heavenly Father's voice brings His Word (Jesus) to us through the Holy Spirit. The Word condemns, overcomes, and sends the sin within us (as far away as the east is from the west). Instead of judging us, the Word of God proclaims forgiveness, acceptance, and sanctification.
When our ears (and hearts) are focused on the living Word of God, we can understand His written word, the Bible, as God intended. - And his intention is to convey to us the message of love that he has for us.
This becomes clear in Romans, chapter 8, one of my favorite Bible passages. It begins with the declaration: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Röm 8,1)It concludes with the powerful reminder of God's everlasting, unconditional love for us: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Röm 8,38-39)We have the assurance that we are “in Christ” (and belong to Him!) because we hear God’s voice in Jesus, who said: “When he has released all his sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; instead, they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” (Joh 10,4-5)We hear the voice of our Lord and follow Him by reading His Word and knowing that He is speaking to us. Reading Scripture helps us recognize that we are in a relationship with God, for this is His desire, and this confidence draws us closer to Him. God speaks to us through the Bible to assure us of His love, confirming that we are His beloved children. We know that this voice we hear is God's voice. When we allow ourselves to be guided by it to practice love for our neighbor, and when we increasingly experience humility, joy, and peace in our lives—all this, we know, comes from God, our Father.
Knowing that our Heavenly Father calls us by our names as His beloved children, we are motivated to live the life Paul describes in his letter to the church in Colossae:
So attract as God's elect, as saints and loved ones, heartfelt mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience; and bear one another, and forgive one another, if any one has a complaint against the other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you forgive! But above everything draws on love, which is the bond of perfection. And the peace of Christ, to which you are also called in one body, rule in your hearts; and be grateful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Kol 3,12-17).
On Father's Day (and all other days), let us demonstrate that our Heavenly Father created us to love us. As our loving Father that he is, he wants us to hear his voice so that we can live a full life in close relationship with him - knowing that he will always stand up for us, always be with us, and always love us. Let us always remember that our Heavenly Father gave us everything in and through Christ His Incarnate Son. Unlike the wallet and the money I lost many years ago (they didn't last), God's gift to you (and me) is always present. Even if you lose sight of His gift for a while, our Heavenly Father is always there - knocking, seeking and finding you (even if you are apparently lost) for you to be His gift of unconditional, infinite love fully accept and experience.
by Joseph Tkach
