The way of escape: grasping God’s feelings toward his children

Journal entry

Right now I can sense God speaking to me helping me to understand. I can even see that there are so many lies that make his voice hard to distinguish. I know that my Father is trying to strip away my false beliefs, and is trying to point them out ever so carefully so I can take away things that are bringing me down.

I know that I have to be so careful of my thoughts. Do I take praise to myself? Do I seek after it? Do I get down when I am not acknowledged?

I believe that I need to leave room in my heart for a God who gave his dear Son for me. When I think about this I feel valued. I think of the feelings that would occur in God’s heart toward me. I see an image of God where passion is stirring in his own heart. I see vulnerability. I see that he is searching for another way. God’s heart longs to protect. He is a Father and that is one of the things he most loves to do: protect his children. He wants to provide a future and is willing to sacrifice himself for anyone of his children. But now he is faced with a dilemma: he must give his Son for his lost children.

I see God feelings towards fallen humanity in his dialogue with Ephraim, a tribe of Israel falling into wickedness. He identifies this tribe as his dear son. “Is Ephraim my dear son? ...I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels churn within me; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 31:20). I can see God’s passion here. I see that he has emotions. Reading this verse gives me the impression that they way he felt about us was what motivated him to give his Son to save us. This feeling has, however, stemmed from a great truth, a fact about who we are to him and the relationship he sustains with us. The rhetorical question, “Is Ephraim my dear son?” gives the reason he would be willing to suffer loss for our sake. This is the truth that binds the heart of humanity to God, and God to humanity. Notice this is the Elijah message that is prophesied to come before the second coming: “Before the great and terrible day of the LORD I will send you Elijah the prophet, and he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the heart of children to their fathers…” (Malachi 4:5,6) Both the fathers and the children have had a revelation of the relationship they sustain to one another. It is important to understand that just because people are birthed through the procreation of their parents, that it doesn’t mean that they understand the true meaning of a parent and child relationship. There has been so many lies that have mislead people understanding the unconditional love they are to extend to their children. Children also are led to misunderstand their parents and think of their parents as stupid or controlling. However in this relationship, when people follow God's law, there is a well-spring of blessing and love- there is a revelation of God's heart towards to humanity, and also a revelation of the way God loves His own dear Son. This traces our hearts back to why we were created- to share in the joy of being loved, and to love- unconditionally. This unconditional love is not a manufacturing of an emotion. It flows from the core of who God is. He is our Father and this has been revealed through His Son Jesus. Thank you my Father! You have given me something to live for! A reason to feel joy! I am your child, and I forevermore will be!