The Lavish Love Of The Father

by | Feb 16, 2022

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1 (NIV)

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy

I cannot find in my own

 And He keeps His fire burning

To melt this heart of stone

Keeps me aching with a yearning

Keeps me glad to have been caught

In the reckless raging fury

That they call the love of God

Joy and sorrow are this ocean

And in their every ebb and flow

Now the Lord a door has opened

That all Hell could never close

Here I’m tested and made worthy

Tossed about but lifted up

In the reckless raging fury

That they call the love of God

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Richard Mullins

The Love of God lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group

I know my parents’ love for me could be considered reckless. I certainly lavish love upon my own children. But at various times I get angry and struggle to love my young humans—and I’m sure my parents felt the same way when they were raising me.

Marriage may be another example of reckless, lavish love. But there are times I don’t want to be around my spouse and probably times when he doesn’t want to be around me. 

We humans naturally crave true intimacy and just as naturally resist–or even fear–it.

So to imagine a God whose love for me is so lavish and reckless that He would reveal himself, giving blessing after blessing, and finally His only child to die, on the chance that I might turn and embrace Him–this is an idea beyond my comprehension. 

We humans give up too easily. We pursue the object of our affection until pursuit becomes painful or pointless, then we turn aside. Only rarely do we continue our pursuit despite repeated rejection. Meanwhile, “the reckless raging fury that we call the love of God” chases me every day of my life—richly blessing me even when I may curse others, lavishly pouring out His love to me even when I am unlovable, and making its grandest display in Jesus dying for me even when I scorned His sacrifice.

Fiercely and patiently God’s love calls to me to bring me to a place of trust, yet always patiently giving me the choice to step into the fierceness or stay where things seem to make more sense. 

Because, you see, this Love doesn’t  always make sense to me. The extravagance of it makes it hard to believe. This Love made everything I see, because He knew I would smile when I see a butterfly. This Love made the seasons, because He knew we would find comfort in the marking of the times of our lives. This Love stands on the threshold of heaven with His arms open as wide as the skies and calls out my name, just to give my heart a hug in the clouds.

My will is bigger than my petite body reveals, but how can even the strongest will resist the most powerful Love the universe has ever witnessed?

Don’t resist it.

Even if it’s only for a few minutes—today, right now—step into the lavishness of God’s love for you. Let the reckless, raging fury of God’s love wash over you, comfort you. Let it carry you to a place where only a heart made speechless by awe and thankfulness can truly express what this kind of love feels like.

The love of God is greater far

Than tongue or pen can ever tell. 

It goes beyond the highest star

And reaches to the lowest hell. 

The guilty pair, bowed down with care. 

God gave his Son to win;

His erring child he reconciled

And pardoned from his sin.

O love of God, how rich and pure! 

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure–

The saints’ and angels’ song.

 When years of time shall pass away.

And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall; 

When men who here refuse to pray.

On rocks and hills and mountains call; 

God’s love, so sure, shall still endure,

 All measureless and strong; 

Redeeming grace to Adam’s race–

The saints’ and angels’ song. 

O love of God, how rich and pure! 

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure–

The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,

 And were the sky of parchment made;

Were every stalk on earth a quill,

And every man a scribe by trade;

To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry; 

Nor could the scroll contain the whole,

Though stretched from sky to sky.

O love of God, how rich and pure! 

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure–

The saints’ and angels’ song.

Source: hymnal.net

Words & Music © 1923, Ren. 1951 by Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL 60188.

To read more about the history of this song, click here.

Receiving God’s Lavish Love Together,

Angela Mosley, Reclaimer

Angela is a born and raised southern country girl. She spent 20 years in Southern California but is finally back in the south, having recently moved to the Dallas, TX area. She is married to a school teacher, and they have three children. Her writings have been featured in several anthologies and magazines. She self-published her first book in 2016. Angela is deeply passionate about mental wellness and the healing journey. She uses her writing to express deep feelings on growth, change, authenticity, and hope. Angela has been writing for Valerie’s Devotional Ministry, Unveiled and FREE, for over a year now. You can connect with Angela by emailing her at: mrs.a.mosley@gmail.com

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