The Heart of God
One of the most important aspects of God’s heart is His unconditional love. How do we know God’s this? The Bible offers us an in-depth portrait of God’s character and heart. This can be seen in both the Old and New Testaments, giving us a consistent image of God’s nature.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This verse shows how much God loves us; willing to give His Son to save us.
God’s heart is also full of compassion and mercy. Psalm 103:13-14 says, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.” God understands our weaknesses and wants to care for us.
The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 is a great example of this. When the lost son returns home, the father runs to him, hugs him, and celebrates his return even though he had messed up. This story shows that God is always ready to forgive and welcome us back.
God is very patient with us. 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” God’s patience comes from His desire for everyone to turn to Him and be saved.
God’s heart is also about justice and doing what is right. Psalm 89:14 says, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; love and faithfulness go before You.” God cares deeply about right and wrong and wants to fix the wrongs in the world. His heart is troubled by injustice and sin, and He acts to make things right.
God wants a close relationship with us. He created us to be close to Him and continually reaches out to draw us near. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” This verse shows that God wants us to come close to Him.
In the Old Testament, God’s relationship with Israel shows this desire. Even when Israel disobeyed, God’s love remained. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.'”
The best example of God’s heart is seen in the sacrifice of Jesus. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus’ death shows how far God will go to bring us back to Him.
God’s heart also gives us comfort and assurance. In difficult times, we can find peace in His presence. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 describes God as “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” This comfort from God gives us strength and hope.
The heart of the Father, as shown in the Bible, is full of love, compassion, patience, justice, and a desire for a relationship with us. God’s actions throughout the Bible show His deep commitment to us. Whether through the sacrificial love of Jesus, the forgiving embrace of the prodigal son’s father, or His patient call for us to return to Him, the Father’s heart is a testament to His boundless love and mercy. As we understand and experience the heart of the Father, we grow closer to Him, finding comfort, assurance, and a model of love to follow in our own lives.
Tyler Jones is Student Ministry Pastor at Koinonia Church in Hanford, CA. He can be reached at tyler@kchanford.com or 559-582-1528.