Title:TheFatherHeartOfGodByJohnDawson

vincFebruary4,200512:59PM(GMT)

THEFATHERHEARTOFGOD
ByJohnDawson
HaveyoueverwonderedwhatGodthinksofyou?Isithardfor
youtobelieveHelovesyouasmuchastheBiblesaysHedoes?
GodissobigandHesometimesseemssodistantbutwhatisHe
reallylike?DoyoureallyknowHim?You'veheardHis
instructions,butdoyouknowanythingaboutHisemotionsorHis
character?
OneofthemostwonderfulrevelationsoftheBibleisthatGodis
ourFather.Whatdoyouthinkofwhenyouheartheword"father"?
Doyouautomaticallythinkofprotection,provision,warmth,and
tenderness?Ordoestheword"father"paintdifferentkindsof
picturesforyou?GodrevealsHimselfintheBibleasagentle,
forgivingFather,intimatelyinvolvedwitheachandeverydetailof
ourlives.Itisnotonlyabeautifulpicture,butatrueone.However,
everypersonseemstohaveadifferentideaofwhatGodislike,
becausetheyunconsciouslytendtoattachthefeelingsand
impressionsthattheyhaveoftheirownearthlyfathertotheir
conceptoftheirHeavenlyFather.Eachperson'sownexperience
withhumanauthorityisusuallytransferredovertohowtheyrelate
toGod.Goodexperiencesbringusclosertoknowingand
understandingGod,justasbadexperiencescreatedistorted
picturesofourFather'sloveforus.
WhatdidGodhaveinmindwhenHecreatedthefamily?The
Biblesays,"Godmakesahomeforthelonely"(Psalm68:6

NASB)Afamilyinvolvesacircleofrelationshipincludingan
adultmaleandfemale,intowhichtiny,dependenthumanbeings
arebornandraised.Whydoweentertheworldassuchhelpless,
inadequatepersons,andthenslowlygrowupphysically,mentally,
andemotionallyintoselfsufficientadults?Haveyouever
wonderedwhyGoddidn'tcomeupwithsomesortofreproduction
systemthatwouldproduceaphysicallycompletedpersonsuchas
HisoriginalcreationofAdamandEve?
IbelieveGodwantedustocomeintothisworldtotallydependent
andhelpless,becauseHeintendsthefamilyunittobeaplace
whereHisloveisdemonstratedtobothparentandchild.As
parentswebegintoreallyunderstandGod'shearttowardsusas
Hischildren.Andaschildren,itisGod'swillforustoseeHislove
revealedthroughparentaltenderness,mercy,anddiscipline.
Butwhatiftheidealdidnothappen?Whatifyouhavebeenfailed
insomewaybyparentalauthority?Somanyhavesufferedhurt
andrejectionbytheirfamiliesthatitishardforthemtoseeGodas
Hereallyis.UnderstandingthecharacterofGodisessentialifwe
aretoloveHim,serveHim,andbelikeHim
Iwanttotalkaboutsixdifferentareasofmisconception
concerningGodandHisloveforus.ForeaseofcommunicationI
willbereferringalmostexclusivelytoGod'squalitiesof
fatherhood.However,afullrevelationofGod'sparentalloveis
incompletewithoutthepresenceofthemaleandfemaleattributes
ofparentalaffection."AndGodcreatedmaninHisownimage,in
theimageofGodHecreatedhim;maleandfemaleHecreated
them."(Genesis1:27NASB)Iwantyoutolookbackintoyour
personalpastandseeifyourrelationshipwithGodhasbeen
hinderedinanywaybecauseofafailureorabsenceoftender
lovingcarefromoneorbothofyourparents.

I.ParentalAuthority
Haveyoueverturnedintothedrivewayofafriend'shousetobe
greetedbythefamilydog?Thefoolishmuttwilleithercower
awayfromyou,tremblingwithfear,orleapuponyouwithan
unwanteddisplayofaffection,demonstratedwithtongue,tail,and
dirtypaws.Thebrowbeatenpuppythatcannotbeinducedtotrust
youhasobviouslybeenmistreated.Theexuberantmongrel
attemptingtogiveyouafacialwithhistonguehasobviouslycome
fromalovinghome.
SoitiswhenGodapproachesman.Ourpastexperiencesdictate
ourresponsewhenGodreachesouttous.Aweepingprophet
namedHoseaheardthevoiceofGodsaying,"WhenIsraelwasa
childIlovedhim,andoutofEgyptIcalledMyson.ButthemoreI
calledIsrael,thefurthertheywentfromMe.Theysacrificedtothe
baalsandtheyburnedincensetoimages.ItwasIwhotaught
Ephraimtowalk,takingthembythearms;buttheydidnotrealize
itwasIwhohealedthem.Iledthemwithcordsofhuman
kindness,withtiesoflove;Iliftedtheyokefromtheirneckand
bentdowntofeedthem."(Hosea11:14LB)God'sauthorityisnot
harshandvindictive,buttothecontrary,Heisunspeakablygentle
andlongsuffering.
TheotherdayIrushedintomydenurgentlyneedingsome
informationfrommyfiles.AsIsortedfranticallythroughmy
papers,myfiveyearoldsonrepeatedlyblewhisshrilltinwhistle.
Itoldhimagainandagaintostop.Therewasaperiodofsilence
followedbyadeafeningblastrightnexttomyear,includinga
sprayofsaliva.Ireachedaround,swattedhimwiththebackofmy
handandbellowedathiminanger.ImmediatelyIfeltthatthe
SpiritofGodhadbeengrieved.Irememberedthebiblical

statementthatGodisslowtoangeranddelightstobemerciful.I
tookmysoninmyarmsandaskedhimtoforgiveme.Itwasonly
rightthatIshouldcorrecthisdisobedience,butourchildrenshould
alwaysknowthatwedisciplinethembecausewelovethem,and
notbecauseweareventingourmomentaryfrustration.
OurHeavenlyFatherisatthisverymomentbeingslanderedand
misrepresentedallovertheworldbyman'scrueltyandselfishness.
Notonlyinthehome,butinallformsofhumanGOVERNMENT
.Hislawsoflovehavebeenignoredandourmangledhearts
continueonincarryingoutinjusticetoallthosesmallerand
weakerthanourselves.
WhathorrorisGodseeingatthismoment?ABEDROOM door
burstsopen.Asmallboyisslappedawakebyadrunkenandangry
maninthemiddleofthenight"Thesprinklersarestillon.It'sa
flood.I'llteachyou,boy!"Theterrifiedchildisbeatenmercilessly
bythedark,hulkingshapeofamanhecalls"Daddy."
A15yearoldprostitutewithblank,emptyeyes,mechanically
performsthroughanightofdegradationonHollywoodBoulevard.
Shedoesn'tcarewhathappenstoher.Shehasn'tfeltcleansincethe
nightshewasmolestedbyherownfather.
AwoundedGENERATION stumblesthroughtheiryouthful
years,onlytovisitthesamehurtsontheirownchildren.
Generationaftergenerationitgoeson.Istherenoonetocomfort
us?Whowillfatherthechildrenofmen?Whosearmsarebig
enoughforallthelonelychildrenoftheworld?Whoweepsover
ourpains?Whowillcomfortusinourloneliness?ONLYGOD.A
BROKENHEARTEDFATHERwhoisrejectedbythelittleones
Heyearnstoheal.Ourproblemisthatwe,likethebrowbeaten
puppy,shrinkawayfromtheOnewhoweassumewillbelikethe

otherauthoritiesinourlives.ButHeisnotHeisperfectlove.It
wasGodwhogavethiscommandtoparentsinEphesians6:4:
"Parentsdon'tkeeponscoldingandnaggingyourchildren,making
themangryandresentful.Rather,bringthemupwiththeloving
disciplinetheLordHimselfapproves."(LB)
II.ParentalFaithfulness
EverypromiseofGodwillbefulfilled.Heisconsistentlyloving.
Hisoneheartmotiveremainsthesamethroughtimeandeternity.
Heneverchanges.Heonlydesirestoshowloveandforgiveness.
DoyoudistrustGod?OurdistrusthurtsHimdeeply.WhatifI
camehometomywifeandchildrenafteralongjourneyandthey
ranawayfrommewhenIopenedthedoorandcalledtheirnames.
Iwouldbeterriblyhurt.
YouareGod'schildandevennowHecallsyourname,butmaybe
deepinyourheartyoudoubtHisfaithfulness.Asachildyoumay
haveexperiencedthecompleteabsenceofafatherbecauseof
deathordivorce.Maybeyouwereorphanedbythedemandsof
yourparents'career?Orisitjustthechildhoodmemoryofbroken
promisesorneglectthathauntsyou?Someofyouscreamedfor
hoursasbabiesbutnobodycametorelieveyouofyourdiscomfort
andhunger.Someofyouwhimperedbehindlockeddoors,asmall
child,forgottenandalone.
DoyouhaveaninabilitytosenseHispresencewithyou?Isyour
heartsofttowardsGodorhardenedwithcynicismanddistrust?
LookupintoHiseyesandseeHisloveforyou."Iwillneverdesert
you,norwillIeverforsakeyou...Iamwithyoualwaysevenuntil
theendoftheage."(Heb.13:5;Matt.28:20NASB)

Youmaysaytome,"ButifHehaslovedmesomuch,thenwhy
haven'tIfeltHimorseenHim?"Itisn'tGodwhohasfailedyou
myfriend,butIandthosewhoknowHislovepersonally.Too
manytimeswehavefailedtobecomeHisvoiceandHishandsto
thosewhodonotknowHim.Fartoofewallowthemselvestobe
drivenbythebrokenheartofJesusintothedarkcornersofthis
worldwherethepoorandneedywaitJesusisnotattractedto
pleasantplaces,buttohurtingpeople.HepursuesuswithHislove
fromourfirstbreathingmomentuntilthedaywedie.
YourHeavenlyFatherwastherewhenyoufirstwalkedasachild.
Hewastherethroughhurtsanddisappointments.Heispresent
nowatthismoment.Youwerebrieflyloanedtohumanparents
who,forafewyears,weresupposedtohaveshoweredyouwith
lovelikeHislove.ButyouareandalwayswillbeachildofGod,
madeinHisimage.YourlovingFatherawaitsevennowwith
outstretchedarms.WhatwouldkeepyoufromHim?
FewpeopleknowGodinallHislovelinesswhilelivingthisbrief
life.Manyofusarelikethethiefwhodiedonthecrossnextto
Jesus.Outwardlyhesawabloody,disfiguredbody,butsoonhe
begantoperceivethetruenatureofJesus,andatthelastminute,
enteredbyfaithintothefamilyofGod.Wetoomustseepastthe
religiousandcommercialmutationsofJesus,andbeholdtheGod
ofLovewhostillstandswithopenarmssaying,"Icamethatyou
mighthavelifeandthatmoreabundantly."(John10:10NASB)
"Evenwhenwearetooweaktohaveanyfaithleft,Heremains
faithfultouswhoarepartofHimselfandHewillalwayscarryout
Hispromisestous."(11Tim.2:13LB)
III.ParentalGenerosity

AfewyearsagoIstoodinanativevillageintheSouthPacific,
watchingthechildrenplay.Itoccurredtomethatthesechildren
wouldveryseldomhearthewords,"Don'ttouchthat!Leaveit
alone!Becareful!"Theirhomesweresimple,consistingofearth
floors,thatchedroofs,andmatsthatrolleddowntoserveaswalls
atnight.
Incontrast,ourmodernhomesarestuffedwithexpensiveand
fragilefurnishingsandappliancesthatrepresentaminefieldof
potentialrejectionandrebukeforinquisitivetoddlers.Howmany
mothershaveexplodedinangeratachildwhohasdamageda
treasuredobjectofgreatexpenseorsentimentalvalue.Childrenare
constantlyremindedoftheimportanceofthingstheirvalue,and
howtocareforthem.Veryfewtimesdotheyhearthesimple
words,"Iloveyou."
Arepetitiousanddestructivechantisworkingitswayintothe
subconsciousmindsofourchildren,"Thingsaremoreimportant
thanme.Thingsaremoreimportantthanme!"Whatarewetodo?
Abandonourmodemhomes?Obviouslynot.Butwedoneedto
realizethatourconceptofGod'sgenerositymayhavebeen
crippledbyourchildhoodexperiences.
ThetruthisthatGodisinnatelygenerous.Creationshowsan
extravaganceofcolor,complexity,anddesignthatgoesfarbeyond
simplefunctionalvalue.Atthismoment,highintheItalianAlps,a
tinywhiteflowerglistensinthesunlight.Ithasneverbeenseenby
thehumaneyeinallofitsseasonsofbloom.Itisnotanessential
partofthefoodchain.ItwascreatedbyGodinthehopethatone
dayasonofAdamoradaughterofEvemightglanceatitandbe
blessedbyitsbeauty.
ThegreatestdemonstrationofGod'sfatherheartseemstocome

withHisattentiontothedetailsofourlife.Hesurprisesuswith
thoseextrathings,thoselittlepleasuresandtreasuresthatonlya
fatherwouldknowweyearnfor.Godisnotstingy,possessive,or
materialistic.Weusepeopletogetthings,Heusesthingstobless
people.
MyfamilyandIhaveworkedasmissionariessince1972,trusting
Godforourdailyneeds.Ourtestimonyisthatinprovidingforus,
Godgoesfarbeyondorbasicneedsoffood,clothing,andshelter.
WeserveatrulygenerousGod!ThePsalmistsaid,"Trustinthe
Lord,anddogood;dwellinthelandandcultivatefaithfulness.
DelightyourselfintheLord;andHewillgiveyouthedesiresof
yourheart.CommityourwaytotheLord,trustalsoinHim,and
Hewilldoit."(Psalm37:35NASB)
IV.ParentalAffection
DoyouhaveanyideahowattractiveyouaretoGod?Oneofthe
biggesthindrancestoourwalkwithHimisasensethatourfleshis
REPULSIVE toHimbecauseofsin.Whenmysmallsonis
coveredwithmudfromthebackyard,Ipickhimupandcleanhim
offwiththegardenhose.Irejectthemud,nottheboy.Yes,you
havesinned.Yes,youhavebrokenGod'sheart.Butyouarestill
thecenterofGod'saffectionstheappleofHiseye.ItisHewho
pursuesuswithaforgivingheart.Wesay,"IfoundtheLord,"but
thetruthis,Hefoundus.
Manychildren,particularlyboys,havehadnophysicaldisplayof
affectionfromtheirfathers,ornorealcompassionwhentheyare
hurt.Becauseofourfalseconceptofmasculinity,wearetold,
"Don'tcryson,boysdon'tcry."Jesusisnotlikethat.His
compassionandunderstandingaremeasureless.Hefeelsourhurts
moredeeplythanwedobecauseHissensitivitytosufferingisso

muchgreater.
Ioncehadtoholdmyscreamingtwoyearoldwhileadoctor
stitchedalargegashinhisforehead.Hequicklyforgothispainful
experienceandfellasleepinmyarms.ButIwastormentedbythe
experienceandgrievedforhours.Youhaveforgottenmostofyour
pains,butGodhasnot.Hehasperfectrecallofeverymomentof
yourlife.YourtearsarestillmingledwithHisatthisverymoment
Godwastherewhenyouexperiencedcruelteasingintheschool
yardandyouwalkedaloneavoidingtheeyesofothers.Whenyou
satinamathclassconfusedanddejected,Hewaswithyou.Atthe
ageoffourwhenyougotlostatthecountyfairandwandered
terrifiedthroughthehugecrowd,itwasGodwhoturnedtheheart
ofthatkindladywhohelpedyoufindyourmother."Iledthem
withcordsofhumankindness,withtiesoflove."(Hosea11:4
NIV)
Sometimeswedon'tunderstandwhatafussy,dotingFatherGodis.
YourparentsmayproudlydisplaybronzedBABYBOOTIES on
themantle,picturesinanalbum,ortrophiesonthewallbuthow
doesthatcomparewithGod'sinfinitecapacitytobeoverjoyed
withyoureverysuccess?ItwasactuallyGodwhoheardyouspeak
yourfirstrealword.Thehoursyouspentaloneexploringnew
textureswithbabyhandswereadelighttoyourHeavenlyFather.
SomeofHisgreatesttreasuresarethememoriesofyourchildhood
laughter.Therehasneverbeenanotherchildlikeyou,andthere
neverwillbe.
MosesonceinvokedablessingoneachofthetribesofIsrael.To
onetribehesaid,"YoushalldwellbetweentheshouldersofGod."
Whatafantasticblessing!Butthatiswhereyoudwellalso.
Whateveryoubecomeintheeyesofmen,evenapersonofgreat

authority,fame,ortitle,youwillneverceasetobemoreorless
thanababeinthearmsofGod.
V.ParentalAttentiveness
ThereisoneattributeofGodthatnoteventhebestparentcanhope
toimitatethatisGod'sabilitytobewithyouallthetime.As
parentswejustcannotgiveconstantattention24hoursaday.We
arefinitebeingswhocanonlyfocusononethingatatime.Not
onlyisGodwithyouallthetime,butHegivesyouHiswhole
attention."LetHimhaveallyourworriesandcares,forHeis
alwaysthinkingaboutyouandwatchingeverythingthatconcerns
you."(IPeter5:7LB)
Godisconstantlythinkinganuninterruptedstreamofloving
thoughtstowardyouasthoughnobodyelseintheworldexists.
Yousay,"HowdoesHedothat?HowcanHebepersonally
involvedwithbillionsofindividualsatthesametime?"Idon't
know,butIknowit'snoproblemfortheCreatoroftheworld.
PerhapstheexplanationisthespeedofHisthought.Thereare5
billionpeopleonthisplanet.Godhascreatedthingsinnaturethat
pulsateatincrediblespeed.Ihaveheardthatthequartzcrystal's
molecularstructurevibratesatthespeedof9billionmovements
persecond.IfGodcouldonlythinkthatfast,Hecouldthinka
lovingthoughttowardsyouabouttwiceeverysecondwithout
strainingHisabilitytorelatetotherestofHischildren.Who
knowshowHedoesit?Justenjoyit!Asfarasyouareconcerned,
it'sjustyouandGod.Youdon'thavetogetHisattention,He's
alreadylistening.Don'tworryabouttakingHistime...it'sallyours.
Yourparentswereoftenpreoccupiedwiththeiractivities,and
sometimesshowednovitalinterestinthesmalleventsofyourlife,
butGodisnotthatway.Hecares.HeisaGodofdetail.Whydoes

theBiblesaythatGodhasnumberedthehairsofyourhead?Not
becauseGodisconcernedwithabstractmathematics.He'snota
computerwantingdata,it'sjustthatHe'stryingtotellusinwhat
detailHeknowsusandcaresaboutourlives.
Alittleboyhasworkedallafternoonpoundingnailsintopiecesof
scrapwood.Hefinallyemergesfromthegarageandshowsathree
levelbattleshiptomom.Hecan'twaituntildadgetshome.Dadis
late.At6:30atired,preoccupiedmanfinallyarrives.Acolddinner
iswaiting,andsoaretheincometaxforms.Theexcitedboy
proudlydisplayshishandiworktoadaddywhobarelylooksup
fromthecalculator.Daddyneverlooked,neverappreciated,but
Goddid.FatherGodalwayslooked,alwaystookdelightinthe
workofyourhands.He'syourrealFather,alwayswillbe.Don't
everresentthefailingsofyourhumanparents.Theyarejustkids
thatgrewupandhadkids.Ratherrejoiceinthewonderfulloveof
yourFatherGod.
VI.ParentalAcceptance
Weliveinaperformanceorientedsociety.Acceptanceisalways
conditionalifyoumakethefootballteam,ifyoubringhomea
goodreportcard,ifyoulookpretty,ifyouhavemoney,ifyouwin.
Thekingdomofthisworldisakingdomofrejection.The
KingdomofGodisakingdomofunconditionallove.God's
promisesareconditional,wemustobeyHimtoseeblessing,but
Hisloveisunconditional.Youdon'thavetowaittoexperiencethe
loveofGod.Comeasyouare.JustbehonestwithHimaboutyour
sinHedelightstoforgiveyou.Eveninthedepthsofyourpast
rebellionHestilllovedyou.EvenGod'sjudgmentsaremotivated
bylove.
ManyofyouhaveaninabilitytoreceiveGod'sloveandapproval.

Youaretrappedinaslavelikerelationshipwiththeharshgodof
yourimagination.Atrueloverelationshipinvolvesthegivingand
receivingofloveresponses.There'sonenightIwillalways
rememberthenightIproposedtomywife,Julie.Ikissedherand
askedhertomarryme.Whatifshehadrespondedlikethis,"I'll
washyoursocks,I'llcleanyourcar,andI'lltypeyourletters."I
didn'twanttohearthat!Iwantedaresponsethatmatchedmy
feelingsofloveforher.Iwantedtoknowthatshefeltthesame
wayaboutme.
WhatisyourresponsetoGodwhenHesimplysaysHelovesyou?
Canyou"BestillandknowthatHeisGod"withoutrushinginto
franticactivitytoearnHisapproval?(Psalm46:10KJV)Oneof
thegreatestpicturesofhumanpeaceandcontentmentisthatofa
babyasleepinthearmsofamotherafterhavingbeenfedatthe
breast.Thechildnolongersquirmsanddemands,butrestsinthe
embraceoflovingarms.Adeepmellowcontentmentwellsupinto
thesoundofalullabysungbymothersattimeslikethis.The
prophetZephaniahdescribedasimilaremotionintheheartofGod.
"Hewillsave,Hewillrejoiceovertheewithjoy,Hewillrestin
Hislove,Hewilljoyovertheewithsinging."(Zeph.3:17KJV)
Don'tbesorestlessinthepresenceofGod.CorrietenBOOM
hadsomesimpleadvicetoofferthisgeneration.Shewho
experiencedsomuchsufferingatthehandsoftheNazis,yetwent
ontogreatspiritualvictory,oncesaidtomyfriendsandme,"Don't
wrestle...nestle."Whataprofoundbutsimpletruth.
Godalreadylovesyou.Allthroughlifeyouhavehadtoperform
andcompete.Evenasatinybabyyouwerecomparedwithother
babies.Peoplesaidyouwere"toofat,"or"toothin,"orhad"his
legs"or"hernose,"butGoddelightedinyouruniquenessandstill
does.It'swhenyoubaskintheloveoftheFatherthatyoucause

Godto"restinHisloveandjoyoveryouwithsinging."
Yes,thereismuchtobedoneinyourlifeandthroughyourlife.
TherewillbedayswhenGodcomesbringingdeepconvictionof
sin,showingyouareasofyourlifethatneedtobechanged,
committedandsubmittedtoHim.ButGodisnotalways
demandingchanges.HeknowsourlimitsandHegivesusthe
graceandpowertodothethingsHeasksofus.Heistenderand
compassionate.MostofthetimeHejustsays,"Iloveyou,"and
softlyspeaksyourname.
Conclusion
Ifyouseethatyouhavebeenhinderedinyourrelationshipwith
Godduetosomekindoffailureofparentallove,thentakethese
thingstotheLord.Youmustfindforgivenessinyourheart
towardsanyonewhohashurtyou.Ifyoudon't,yourbitternesswill
consumeyouandyouwillfindnopeacewithGod.Realize,too,
thatyouarenotalone.Ihaven'tmetaperfectpersonyet,ora
parentwhohasn'tmademistakes.Everyonehassufferedsome
kindofhurtsintheirlife.Oneofthekeysforreleaseisfoundin
forgiveness.Theimportantthingisthatyougoforwardandgetto
knowGodforwhoHereallyisnotwhoyouthinkHeis.Heisthe
PerfectParent.Healwaysdisciplinesinlove.Heisfaithful,
generous,kind,andjustHelovesyouandHelongstospendtime
withyou.HewantsyoutoreceiveHisloveandknowthatyouare
aspecialanduniquepersontoHim.WillyoureceiveGod'slove
andaffection?Won'tyouopenupandenterintoanintimate
relationshipwithyourtrueFather?Heispatientlywaitingforyou
tocome.ItismyprayerthatyouwillrealizeHisloveforyouand
respondtothefatherheartofGod.