Song of the Day: How Deep the Father's Love
I intend to share with all of you that care to read it, the song(s) that are speaking to me in the moment. Most of you know that my heart is bathed in music pretty much every second of every day. Yes, even when in a business meeting and dealing with issues and strategies, there is a song in my heart and mind playing even then. I firmly believe that music can touch a heart in places nothing else can. A perfect melody, matched to a perfect harmony, alongside a smooth, juicy riff, with flowing interludes and carefully crafted lyrics from the heart. When brought together at the same time, in the same song, Christian song or not, it can move a soul, capture a heart, bring joy in challenges, and even, yes, fix what is broken and bring peace to turmoil.
With all that said, I personally believe nothing does that more effectively than a song about and for our amazing Lord. When a heart, touched by the Father, scraped and marred by the mire of this world, and redeemed by Grace, pens words and notes taken directly from scripture and applied to a 4:4, 3:4 or any other time signature, and paired with a heart of worship, it can truly bring tears to the eye, redemption to the soul and an intimate connection to the Father that is hard to find in any other scenario.
So, all that said, let’s start off with one that touches my heart every time I hear it, have the honor to sing it, and brings me to a 1-on-1 meeting with Jesus every single time. It’s an oldie, passed down through the generations, remade (good and ok) over and over, but stands tall against the aging of time.
Song of the Day:
“How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” – Stuart Townend
“…I was thinking about… what it cost the Father to give the Son…” – Stuart Townend
“…actually it cost Him to give up His son…” – Stuart Townend
How deep the Father’s love for us, How vast beyond all measure, That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure. How great the pain of searing loss – The Father turns His face away, As wounds which mar the Chosen One Bring many sons to glory.
Verse 1 comes in strong as I sing the words that beautifully describe a concept somewhat lost in the church today. The cross, while sad and a full display of the hatred by God of sin and its effects on His creation, required a love for us so deep, so vast, that we cannot understand it or truly appreciate it. In spite of our choice to be predisposed to sin and wretchedness, His love was undeterred from His desire for redemption. Even through the “searing” pain of having to turn His back on His only Son, His prized offspring, only He knew it would pave a way for us to be brought to glory; because of what He has done. (Heb. 2:10)
“…my complicity in it…” – Stuart Townend
Behold the man upon a cross, My sin upon His shoulders; Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice Call out among the scoffers. It was my sin that held Him there Until it was accomplished; His dying breath has brought me life – I know that it is finished.
The challenge to us all: Look afresh upon the cross; see the Man, the loving Savior, and take pause to recognize that it is my sin, your sin, our sin, that put sent Him there and kept him there until death. Our voice resonates loudly among those yelling “crucify him.” For we are no better than they. And yet, as He took his last, dying breath, and because He took His last breath on that cross, death was defeated, and we were given LIFE. It truly was and is… finished. (Mk. 10:45)
“…I will not boast in anything except what He has done for me…” – Stuart Townend
I will not boast in anything, No gifts, no power, no wisdom; But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection. Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer; But this I know with all my heart – His wounds have paid my ransom.
For what do we have in which to boast? Our talents? Our intelligence? Our goodness? No. In the face of the Father those are as garbage. Worthless. Our talents cannot save anyone. Our intelligence cannot forgive our sins. Our goodness… well, our goodness is so often limited only to those who are good to us; a stark contrast to the actual, complete, free goodness of God. So, I can and will boast in only this… the cross. “His death and resurrection.” For this is all we have in which to gain from. It was not our reward, but His reward! (1 Pt. 2:24)
And then the song ends with, in my opinion, the most powerfully and beautifully written sentence I can think of. The line that brings tears to my eyes every single time I see or hear or sing them.
“…but this I know with all my heart – His wounds have paid my ransom.”
Do you stop and think about that often? You should. Do you truly believe that with “all your heart?” It’s ever too late to start believing that. It’s the reason He did it. So that you can know that your deserved debt of your helpless state of sin and defeat is already paid. By His wounds. By His stripes. By His death and resurrection. Your debt is paid. You are free. You are His. Believe that today. Be reconciled to Him. Thank Him for what He did for you. And know, that His wounds have paid your ransom.
References:
https://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/how-deep-the-fathers-love-for-us/