The Father’s Love

There is a “baby bouncer” that all three of my kids have loved as infants. It’s a reclined seat with a thin metal frame, giving the babes an ability to flex (hence, bounce) a little. Or a lot, if one has an older brother that likes to lean baby back as far as she can go, laugh, and release… 

This was a regular occurrence in my home. And every day, I attempted some version of discipline to teach my two year-old son that it is not safe for him to launch his baby sister. After one too many launches one day, I picked him up and set him on the couch away from her.

“I sad! I sad!” he began to cry. I let him settle for a moment before picking him back up. He was still pouting and refusing to look at me as I first reminded him that I love him – right now, even when he makes choices that I don’t love. I remind him that his sister is little, and he needs to help keep her safe. And I set him back down on the couch where he proceeds to pout and hide from me for quite some time. 

I find myself reminding him every few minutes, “I love you… Hey – I still love you.” And the quietest whisper from the Spirit prompts, how much more does your Heavenly Father want to remind you of His love?

I find myself learning from my son – is that what I look like before God? How much greater is His love for me, and how much more do I close my ears to his voice when I’ve messed up or don’t trust what he’s trying to teach me? Am I not also the one to sulk and distance myself?

As a parent, I consider God’s perspective – I love my child regardless of what his behavior is. And I often give him good things regardless of if he deserves it. Like the $2 dum-dum sucker I bought him later that day. If I’m human and I’m sinful, and I still love to give good things to my wild, baby-launching son, how much more does a faithful and holy father love to give good things to his children? How much more pure and trustworthy is his counsel and discipline? 

Am I so quick to forget who my God is?

He promises – if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us. To cleanse us of all unrighteousness. All of it. [1]

He is Holy and the full revelation of wisdom, so he can not sin against us and could never give faulty instruction. [2]

His steadfast love never ceases. And his desire to be present among us is constant. [3]

And that is what we see fulfilled in the cross. That Jesus would cover the consequences for us. That he would suffer the spiritual reprimanding for us, far greater than a little timeout on a cozy couch, so that the curtain in the temple could tear and the presence of God could be released among the people. So the people of God could be at peace with God through the life, death and resurrection of the Son. So we could have friendship with the God whom we had offended. 

Three years later, my son is no less wild (rather, considerably more), and my daughter is no less pestered by her big brother. (However, tables have turned a bit as she’s learned from the best.) And still. My love for them never changes. My desire for them to know my love for them never changes. My desire to help them and teach them and lead them never changes. And yet it all pales in comparison to the purity of love and desire that God has for us. Whatever our circumstances, whatever our offense, whatever our fears, let us bring it all to the Lord. He wants to be near. He made a way through the cross. And he leaves us invited to respond.

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For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
– Hebrews 4:15-16

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 7:11

… yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.
– Isaiah 31:20-21

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[1] 1 John 1:9
[2] Revelation 4:8, Proverbs 1:7, 2:1-6, 3:5-8
[3] Exodus 29:45-46, 33:16, 34:6; Lamentations 3:22, Luke 23:45, Revelation 21:3

Spend some time here. The most important thing about us is what we think about when we think about God. Jot down some attributes and things that come to mind. Compare them to Scripture and what God has said. Talk to God about it. Pray that he would continually correct your view of Him, that you might see and believe and know. He is everything he says.

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Related: Why should we know God?
Do you know who it is that you serve?