A Glimpse into the Father’s Heart

Many times I have heard people talk about God’s love. I do appreciate the love of God to all mankind. But, I guess the depth of God’s love is unsearchable and we can never fully comprehend it now for, as 1 Corinthians 13:12 says ‘…now we know in part’. I am one person that has been plagued by fear and panic. I want to be rid of this disease so I decided to search the bible for answers to this problem. I have been meditating on the verses that deal specifically with the fear nots. I must say when I began meditating and speaking out the word of God, fear vanished for a season. But then, I stopped and the disease rose up again. This time around one of the verses that I meditated upon (1 John 4:18) prompted me to study about God’s love. This verse says that perfect love casts out fear and he that is afraid is not made perfect in love. I want to be made perfect in love so that the fear can be cast out permanently from me. Fear has torment!

I am amazed that when we apply ourselves to study the word of God, he honours our efforts by opening our eyes to seeing things that we never quite saw before. Some of the things which God has revealed to me are not exactly new to me but I never quite got it before. I laugh sometimes remembering that some of these things were preached in a sermon but well, I did not quite understand it at the time. When you do get hungry for the word, God will make sure you are filled.

The bible is a story of love. In fact, from Genesis to Revelations it is clear to me now that the central theme of the word of God is love; God’s love and what he desires of us, which is to walk in love towards him and our fellow man. When God gave the children of Israel the law, it was meant to speak love to their fellow man-strangers and brothers alike (Leviticus 19: 18, 19: 34). People have fought religious wars and some people think we should not pay attention to the bible because it has been used wrongly to kill and subjugate etc. Well, what I can say to this is that when people misuse the bible that does not nullify the truth it contains. It just goes to show that these people did not understand what the bible is all about. They did not get it just like I have not always got it and more and more revelations keep coming my way expanding my understanding.

God’s love is unchanging, unconditional and strong! God loves mankind (John 3:16). God’s nature is love. God loves every person on planet earth. God abounds in steadfast love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6, Deuteronomy 5: 10, 10:12). He wants us to be reconciled to him through Jesus Christ whom he sent to die for us on the cross in our place. When we believe in Jesus Christ whom God sent for our sake, we become the children of God (John 1:12). For those who believe, God is no more just a far away God dwelling in some far off place but he becomes our Father. I guess for those of us who were not raised by our fathers it may be difficult to understand the love of a father. However, I do understand a mother’s love.

Because of my mum’s love for me she cared for me, she sent me to the best schools she could afford. She was and remains concerned about my welfare. She has always been concerned when I have fallen sick and does whatever she can so I can be well again. She advises me the best way she knows. On the other hand those that I love, I want the very best for them. I am concerned about their welfare and do everything in my power to help them.

When I say God is my father I should understand and comprehend the full meaning. That means God wants the very best for me. His word is for me! His Spirit is for me! The Father is for me! When I say God is my father I should understand that as a father cares for his children so God cares for me. As a father wants the very best for his children so God wants the very best for me. As a father’s words spring from genuine love and concern so God’s word is for my own good. As a father gives the very best he can to his children so God gives me the very best. As a father desires to be close to his children so God desires to be close to me. As a father cares for, protects and plays with his children so God cares for, protects and plays with me. As a father wants his children to trust him, believe him and know that he loves them so God wants me to trust him, believe him and be confident in his love for me.

What does God desire of me as his child? God wants me to love him back! Proverbs 27:5 says better is open rebuke than hidden love. Love is a doing word. You don’t just say you love people and not do anything for them. Those you love you give of your resources and time. God desires that we put him first. As he loved us and gave us life through Jesus, so we should love him back by giving him our time in fellowship with him and obeying him. When God tested Abraham, he asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac whom he loved (Genesis 22:2). I believe to Abraham, God was first in his life because he did not hesitate to obey God. If we love God we ought to obey him like Abraham did.

As children of God we are to obey him, to love his word and to love righteousness and justice and to love our fellow man. God promises steadfast love to us when we obey him (Exodus 20: 6, Psalm 25:10, 26: 3, Romans 13: 8). There were times in my life when I did not obey my mum and she had to discipline me. In the same way God chastens those he loves (Hebrews 12: 6, Revelations 3: 19). There were also times when I did not feel like obeying my mum but because of my love for her, did what she asked. Many times after doing something my mum did not approve of, I later went to apologise to her because of my love for her. In the same way, when we miss the mark we should ask God for forgiveness out of our steadfast love for him. God also promises steadfast love to those that trust him and fear him (Psalm 32: 10, 33:18). The shadow of God’s wings speaks of protection and is God’s steadfast love (Psalm 36:7). In fact every good thing comes from God and is a direct result of his steadfast love (Psalm 40: 11).

Abraham’s servant, appealed to God’s steadfast love for Abraham when he requested divine intervention in finding a wife for Isaac (Genesis 24: 14). Whatever request we make to God we are asking that he shows us his love. We should ask knowing that he loves us and is for us. God wants us to succeed. God wants us to have the best. Whatever God has given me and shown me, it is out of his steadfast love for me. He forgives out of his love (Numbers 14: 19). We should rejoice in God’s steadfast love for us (Psalm 31: 7). We should know that out of his love he will help us always.

The promotion of Joseph was out of God’s love for him (Genesis 39:21). God grants me favour out of his love for me. God loves Israel and it was out of his love for them that he promoted them and made them a people called by his name (Exodus 15:13, Deuteronomy 4: 37, 7:7-13). God chose Solomon to be king out of his love for him (2 Samuel 12:24). This shows us that God’s blessings on people spring from his steadfast love for them. Steadfast love and faithfulness are the hallmark of God’s character (1 Chronicles 16:34, 2 Chronicles 6:14).

Love is a powerful motivator. Many people at some point have done spectacular things out of love. From history we read of people that were so in love that they would grant a big favour to those they loved. ‘Ask whatever you will even to half of my kingdom’! Love gives. The story of Ruth is touching and I never quite understood how someone would leave her own people to follow an old lady (Naomi) to a foreign land. Quite ridiculous! But when you understand that Ruth loved Naomi it makes sense (Ruth 4: 15). Some time back God taught me to weigh my motives in whatever I do. In many cases the Holy Spirit has nudged me when my motives were not right. Now I realise that as a child of God I should be motivated by love, love for God and love for people.

When we disobey God the door is open for us to repent but if we wantonly continue down that path God is obliged to remove his steadfast love from us. I have learnt a lot from the lives of Saul and David. When Saul disobeyed God he did not repent and for sure he lost the kingdom. When David sinned by killing Uriah he repented and God showed him mercy. Saul on the other hand sought to kill David out of envy. Had he asked for mercy things would have worked out differently for him (2 Samuel 7:15).

When we become children of God, he pours out his Holy Spirit on us and God’s love comes in us (Romans 5: 5). I like the fact that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God (Romans 8: 35). I therefore have every reason to be secure in God’s love for me. God honours our love for him. He has promised us that all things work together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose and plans (Romans 8: 28). God has also promised us the crown of life (James 1: 12). As a child of God I must accept my father’s love and love him back. When we love God he knows us (1 Corinthians 8: 3).

The long and short of the bible is love; love that the father has for us his children, how anyone that believes can be adopted into the family of God (which is nothing other than the house of love) and how we the father’s children who were born of love should walk in love towards our father and our fellow man. Everything else that is talked about is meant to fulfil this call on humanity. Oh Father, grant that I may comprehend the depths of your love and accept it and love you in return. Grant that I may walk in love towards people, honouring them. Thank you for giving me a glimpse into your heart.