How Great Our Father's Love

I just finished watching the Dateline Special about David Goldman’s battle to be reunited with his son Sean. Unfortunately NBC is not posting this special on the web at this time, but you can learn more of the story here. Basically, David's wife returned to her home country of Brazil with Sean (he was four at the time), divorced David, and refused to return Sean to him. She remarried in Brazil, then later died in child birth. After four and a half years, countless setback, and legal battles, the Brazilian Supreme Court finally ordered Sean to be returned to his father. Sean is now nine years old.
As I watched this heartbreaking tale unfold, I could not help but see how much love David felt for his son. He would never stop fighting until he was with Sean again. He would be satisfied with nothing less. Through all the frustration and battles going on, David never quit. Seeing this, I realized that Sean would be ok. When he finally returned home with David, I knew that he would be loved and that his dad will continue to do whatever he needs to see that his son will be well taken care of. Such devotion and determination is something we rarely see today.
Amidst watching this story, I cannot help but think of God’s love for us. It’s a familiar concept. John 3:16 – “God so loved the world.” 1 John 4:8 – “God is love.” In fact, it could be so familiar that we don’t stop to think about his love for us. We begin to take it for granted. But David Goldman shows us on a small scale the lengths that a loving father will go through to be with his child. This is the God who, instead of sending us to Hell as we deserve, chose instead to give his Son for us so that we could be with him (Romans 5:8). He gave at the highest cost so that we could call him “Daddy” (Romans 8:15). And if he’s given so much for this to happen, he will continue to give us what we need to trust him and rest in his love for us (Romans 8:32).
I confess that I haven’t felt the depth of this love for some time. Saying “God loves you” has become a phrase that doesn’t really have a lot of impact for me, not a phrase that makes me stand in wonder. Yes, I believe that God loves me. I believe he loves everyone. But I can’t remember the last time when I felt that love. How about you? When was the last time that hearing “God loves you” really moved you? Have you taken his love for granted?
I thank God that he has given me a fresh glimpse of his love through the moving story of David and Sean. And I pray that you and I alike would feel the depth of God’s love – a love that goes beyond all limits. I hope that we will "[s]ee what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God
(1 John 3:1). I leave you with the promise of God’s undying love for us. I pray it will stir you to draw near to God and to trust in his perfect love.
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).