How often do we look at God as some hard-hearted dictator waiting to squash us under His thumb like a bug? I’ve seen believers over and over again with this mentality and it breaks my heart! It’s time to look at the Father-heart of God!
The Father-heart of God is love.
Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Gal 4:6
We tend to forget this fact. When we hold a view of Him as harsh and uncaring, we dishonor our loving Father and we place a burden of guilt, shame and bondage on our relationship with Him.
He has chosen to use the imagery of a Father – a loving and compassionate Father – in His relationship to us. This wasn’t by happenstance. It was on purpose because we can understand this in human terms.
We see His love and compassion with Abraham when He was going to destroy Sodom.
We see His gentleness with fearful Gideon who requested the fleece (and then did it again).
We see His care for Elijah when He sent ravens to feed him by the brook.
We see the picture of a loving father with the parable of the prodigal son.
Time and time again, God shows Himself expressing tender care and loving compassion for us.
Does He also discipline us? ABSOLUTELY! But that discipline is not punishment. Punishment implies paying a penalty. But since Jesus already did that, there is no punishment for us! Discipline, on the other hand, brings with it the idea of correction and training. One is punitive, the other is redemptive.
The Father-heart of God delights in you.
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. Zeph 3:17
God’s love for us is not clinical and mechanical. His love is personal and relational. He draws us to Himself. He woos us. He shouts over us with shouts of JOY! These are not expressions of distance or harshness. They express the loving Father-heart of our God.
When we see God as He presents Himself to us – as loving, caring, intimate, delighted – it begins to change how we respond to HIM. We don’t walk around in our relationship with heads cowed, living in fear. We step boldly before the Throne of Grace! Not in arrogance as if we deserved His love, but joyfully and abundantly receiving the love He freely showers down on us! It is possible to have hearts filled with humility yet still be able to step confidently into our sonship.
So my question for you today is this: are you living in the absolute joy and delight of His love for you? Or are you living in fear, expecting His constant disappointment and disapproval? Let’s receive the fullness of His love into our hearts and walk in the power of His Spirit as children of The King of Kings!!
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All Scripture quotations are taken from the NASB.
Unless otherwise indicated, photos from pixaby.com
Awesome post! I especially love how you differentiated between discipline and punishment. I think many people – believers and non-believers alike – think of discipline as punishment. He is just, but also very, very loving!! I feel so blessed to be called a child of God!!! Thanks for sharing and hosting your link-up!!
Amen, Ann!! Thanks for coming by and sharing your post this morning! He is so GOOD!
“God’s love for us is not clinical and mechanical. His love is personal and relational.” I love that Kate! The blessing of knowing His heart! I want to know Him more and more each day! Thank you for hosting and sharing His love!
HALLELUJAH, Deb!!! I totally agree. Thanks for coming by, dear one!