I wish I had known Him
As I travelled and ministered in various parts of the world, I noticed a recurring phenomenon: Christians were drawn to the love of Jesus and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, but when it came to the Father, there was an unhealthy fear of God masked behind the Christian jargon of ‘reverential fear.’ They could not run to Him like a child, but only worship Him as a King.
Don’t get me wrong – I acknowledge that the Father is fully worthy of our allegiance and reverence. Yet, the Father Himself had intended to reveal His Fatherly loving nature when He sent Jesus to Earth.
The Old Testament presents many glorious accounts of the Father’s desire to heal the wounds of His children, to deliver them from the oppression of the enemy, and to provide for their every need. None of these compare to the beautiful revelation Jesus displayed of His Father.
Jesus was the “radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3 ESV) and “the image of the invisible God.” (Colossians 1:15 ESV) He came to reveal the Father, not just through His teaching but through His life.
Jesus only did what the Father did
Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. – John 5:19 (NKJV)
Jesus spoke only what He heard His Father spoke
For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. – John 12:49 (NKJV)
1. My Father does not condemn
When He spoke to the adulterous woman and said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more,” Jesus was actually echoing the words of His Father.
2. My Father opens His arms of acceptance to sinners
The Father’s acceptance was also expressed to the most despised among the Jews – the tax collectors. Jesus called out to Zacchaeus, the tax collector, saying, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”
3. The Father is compassionate and generous
The Father is the One who was moved with compassion and multiplied the loaves to feed the hungry. No good father leaves his children hungry. Jesus Himself testifies of His Father:
Which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! – Matthew 7:9-11 (ESV)
4. The Father is humble and lowly
My previous impression of the Father was that He was a bright shining Person passively sitting on His throne. When I read of how Jesus stripped Himself of His garments, took a towel, and washed the dirty feet of the disciples, I had a new understanding of Father God.
My heavenly Father is humble and lowly. He would strip His garments and dirty His hands to wash me of my filth. That was what the Father was doing through Jesus.
Is this your impression of your heavenly Father?
Or have you been worshiping a false image of Him?
