The Love of God

I was reflecting on the words of the song "The Love of God" and I thought that I would share them with you. See my comments at the end.

By Rich Mullins
Romans 8:18-39, Ephesians 3:14-21

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

Now I've seen no band of angels
But I've heard the soldiers' songs
Love hangs over them like a banner
Love within them leads them on
To the battle on the journey
And it's never gonna stop
Ever widening their mercies
And the fury of His love

Oh the love of God
And oh, the love of God
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

The song really speaks for itself but here are some of my thoughts...

I've been thinking about the Christian life lately and about the character of God. So often I am tempted to put God in a box that I feel safe and comfortable with. Yet, God is so much bigger than me, (That is the understatement of the century!) and if I am feeling too comfortable, if I have lost that sense of awe that comes with realizing how beyond me He is, then I need to go back to my knees and repent of, once again, making Him too small in my eyes.

I often need to be reminded of the character of God in the line "There's a wideness in God's mercy I can not find in my own." It is like God to redeem His enemies, to love the most vile of sinners and to forgive those that we desire to see pay for their crimes. His mercy is what saved me, but His mercy far exceeds what I can imagine or give. In fact, to be honest, sometimes His mercy is more than I am comfortable with.

Also, I love the lines, "Keeps me glad to have been caught in the reckless, raging fury that they call the love of God."

To truly follow God is not something controlled or comfortable. It is often an overwhelming path that may appear reckless (as it may very well lead to a cross or some other path of abandon). We don't know how we will be tossed about in this world. We must trust his character, trust his goodness and hang on for the ride. If I wasn't sure that God was really good, if I wasn't certain that this life is fleeting and that I was made for eternity and if I wasn't convinced that God really does have a plan that will work out all things for good, then this would be terrifying. But God is good. I was made for eternity and He will work out all things for the ultimate and eternal good of those who love Him. God's perfect will is so much bigger and more unpredictable than can compare to my small plans and controlled ideas. And yes, for those of you who know me well, I do see the dichotomy that for all my personal desire for structure, clear plans and carefully laid out pathways, I find something irresistibly captivating about the wildness of God.

Like a river rapid, God's love doesn't so much offer a calm wading in a small creek as it sweeps over and consumes you, with the intent of leading you to surrender your life to this love even as Christ did. If we let Him, if we abandon ourselves to Him, then we will be enfolded and swallowed up in His love and I want to be consumed with nothing else.

Glory Revealed

When I was at the missions conference in Florida I heard the song By His Wounds on the radio. The other day I went looking for it in Itunes and I found this amazing album. It is a collection of songs straight from the scripture by popular artists.

What could be more encouraging than listening to the very words of God! You can watch the trailer about the project below.

Song for Today

(Selection from the lyrics of "Brave" by Nichole Nordeman)

'Cause it's been fear that ties me down to everything
But it's been love, Your love, that cuts the strings

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

I am small
And I speak when I'm spoken to
But I am willing to risk it all
I say Your name
Just Your name and I'm ready to jump
Even ready to fall...

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

Song for Today

(Selection from the lyrics of "The Altar and the Door")
Click on cover art to listen to song on YouTube

Here at the altar,
my world’s so black and white
How could I ever falter
What You've shown me to be right

Lord, this time I'll make it right
Here at the altar I lay my life
Your Kingdom come,
but my will was done

My heart is broken as I cry,
like so many times before
But my eyes are dry
before I leave the floor,
O Lord I try
but this time, Jesus,
how can I be sure
I will not lose my follow through
Between the altar and the door

I'm trying so hard
to stop trying so hard
Just let You be who You are
Lord, who You are in me

Jesus, I'm trying so hard
to stop trying so hard
Just let You be who You are
Lord, who You are in me