The Love of the Father
Love is patient and calm.
Love is kind and considerate.
Love isn’t jealous or resentful.
Love doesn’t brag or show off.
Love isn’t rude or focused only on itself.
Love doesn’t get easily upset.
Love doesn’t become overly sensitive.
Love lets go of past mistakes.
Love doesn’t take pleasure in unfairness.
Love celebrates when the truth comes out.
Love supports and stands by others.
Love has faith in people and situations.
Love remains hopeful, no matter what.
Love can face all challenges.
Love stays strong, even in tough times.
Love is everlasting; it doesn’t fade or disappear.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Paraphrased
The Father
Understanding the depth of God’s love is indeed a lifelong journey. Often, the love we experience in our lives comes with conditions, which can lead to anxiety about losing it if we fail to meet certain expectations. However, God’s love is different; it is unconditional and filled with patience and kindness. He is not envious or arrogant, nor does He act selfishly or rudely. Instead, God is slow to anger and always ready to forgive us. He takes no joy in injustice but celebrates the victories of truth. God is here to protect us and continuously seeks what is best for us. Even when we feel our weakest, He faithfully stands by our side, desiring to restore our relationship with Him.
Building a connection with God as our Father takes time, and that is perfectly okay. Scripture teaches us that respecting the Holy God is the first step toward wisdom, reminding us of His incredible power and eternal nature. Our Father’s wisdom is beyond compare. He is gracious and merciful, all-knowing, perfect, pure, without beginning or end, and present everywhere. He is our Father who established our restoration long before we were lost by sending His Son to bridge the gap between us and our Father God. Jesus is a reflection of the nature of God the Father. Thanks to His grace, we can approach God without fear of condemnation. God loves us deeply and genuinely desires for us to break free from the adversarial forces that come against our lives and minds.
Understanding the immense cost that Jesus paid for this freedom can inspire us to continue seeking liberation. The journey of transformation is both beautiful and challenging, and God patiently observes as we grow to reflect the nature of Jesus Christ. He does not want a relationship based on mere religious practices; rather, He truly desires to nurture a close and loving relationship with us.
“Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip?
He who has seen me has seen the Father
"How do you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does His works." (Joh 14:8-10 WEB)
“Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need.” (Heb 4:16 WEB)
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1Jn 4:18 WEB)
“For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” (2Ti 1:7 WEB)
