A. W. Tozer said, “What comes into our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” When you picture God the Father, what do you see? What is His posture toward you? What expression is on His face? What is His tone of voice toward you when He speaks to you? Our picture of God can be influenced by our own father or an authority figure in our life or by other life experiences.
You may have, or have had, a loving father who is or was present, attentive, and caring. You may have a father or authority figure who expects you to perform but who you can never please. Maybe you have a passive father who is just not involved in your life. Distant. Not expressive in love and affection. Some fathers are strict and authoritarian without much love and compassion.
There are other things that can hold us back in our understanding of our Heavenly Father. These may include negative childhood experiences, personal disappointment or hurt, or seeing injustice and wondering why God doesn’t do anything about it. Maybe you were taught to respect Him, but not about His unconditional love.
Sometimes people can better relate to Jesus. I personally believe the television show, The Chosen, has helped many people around the world gain a better understanding of Jesus and the way He loves and accepts us. God the Father can seem more distant, but Jesus came to reveal the Father to us.
John 14:7-9 (NASB) says, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him and have seen Him. Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ Jesus said to Him, ‘Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, ‘Show us the Father?'”
Hebrews 1:3 tells us that Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory and the “exact representation” of His nature. Paul tells us in Colossians 1:15 that Jesus is the “image of the invisible God.” The word “image” here is the Greek word, eikon, from which we get the word icon. It is defined as a literal, visual representation of the thing it represents. So, Jesus is the exact and visual representation of His Father. John 1:18 (CEV) tells us, “No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is truly God and is closest to the Father, has shown us what God is like.“
When I began to do a study on our Father God, I was surprised to find that God is rarely mentioned by the title “Father” in the Old Testament except a few times as it pertained to the children of Israel. Only one person in the Old Testament actually speaks to God calling Him Father – the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 63:16 says, “For You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not recognize us. You, O Lord, are our Father, Our Redeemer from of old is Your name.” In Isaiah 64:8, he says, “But now, O Lord, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand.“
There is no evidence in pre-Christian literature that Jews addressed God as Father. It was only after Jesus came that His followers was instructed to call Him Father. When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, He said in Matthew 6:9 (NASB), “Pray then in this way, ‘Our Father, who is in heaven…‘” This was revolutionary! It’s common now for us to call God our Father, but in New Testament times, it was a serious matter. In fact, for a Jew to refer to God as “my Father” was blasphemy! John 5:17-18 says, “But He answered them, My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working. For this reason the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father making Himself equal with God.”
So, what gives us the ability to call God our Father? John 1:12 (NASB) says, “But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those believe in His name.” But even our coming to Him, starts with the Father. Jesus said in John 6:44 (NASB), “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” Jeremiah 31:3 (NASB) says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” God is calling you and pursuing you. Even our desire comes from Him. Psalm 27:8 (NASB) says, “When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to you, ‘I will seek Your face, Lord.'” Hosea 11:4 (NKJV) says, “I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love.”
The devil has tried to distort humanity’s view of God as far back as the Garden of Eden when he convinced Adam and Eve that God was holding out on them and lying to them. Believing in the goodness of God is the bedrock foundation of our faith. We will never experience all God desires for us if we question His love and goodness. Regardless of what may have influenced your view of the Father heart of God, please spend some time with Him in prayer and in His Word. Meditate on the truth – not the lies you may have believed even from childhood.
One of my favorite verses is Zephaniah 3:17 (NASB). “The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” The root word of rejoice means to circle around – to circle in joy. Vigorous, enthusiastic expression of joy. Exuberant joy. The Tree of Life Version says, “He will dance over you with singing.” This is how the Father expresses His love for you! Accept His unconditional love today!
1 thought on “The Father Heart of God”
Nice! You always write meaningful words.
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