The Father's 'Ironman' Love

“To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.” (Jude 1-2)

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” (1 John 3:16)

By now, many have seen the video of a father and his disabled son completing an Ironman Triathlon together. The father pulls the son in a raft through 2.4 miles of ocean, carries him to a specially equipped bike and then pedals him for 112 hilly miles, and finally straps him into a wheelchair and pushes him on foot for 26.2 miles. I’ve seen the clip several times, and each time I can’t help but weep. This father’s love for his boy is a stirring example for me as a dad, and for all who are parents. It’s also a powerful picture of the Heavenly Father’s love for us. In our brokenness, He is our hope and healing. In our weakness, He is our strength. No matter how helpless, lost, confused or laid low we find ourselves, He mercifully, lovingly raises us to heights of joy and hope, peace and purpose that we could scarcely have imagined.

“We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and by nature we were children under wrath, as the others were also. But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved! He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace in [His] kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:3-7, Holman)

For that grace, we give You thanks today, Heavenly Father. Amen.