How Do You See The Father

Another great posting from the Blazing Center:

How do you see the Father?

Some portray Jesus as the tender sympathetic one and the Father as the frowning wrathful one, clothed in swirling black clouds and lightning bolts, almost pitting them against each other. Yet the One who so loved the world he sent his only Son is called Father of mercies and God of all comfort. Is this how you see him?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 CO 1.3-4)

First of all, this passage begins with an amazing title for God – “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.”

I love this title. Not only do we have a sympathetic high priest, Jesus, who intercedes for us, but the One Jesus prays to is the Father of mercies. The Fountain overflowing with kindness. The One who longed so much for us he sacrificed his Son to bring us to himself so he could lavish us with mercy.

He’s the God of ALL comfort. Infinite comfort. He doesn’t grudgingly dole out a few drops here and there because Jesus begs him to. He pours it out. Abundantly. Like a waterfall.

The Father ministers to us PERSONALLY – “who comforts us.” He’s not distant and uninvolved, but intimately concerned for each and every one of his children. Astounding! The Creator stoops down to our bedside. He touches our suffering.

He comforts us in ALL our affliction. Large and small. Long and short. He’s as concerned with a skinned knee as a broken arm. He never says, “Come on, quit your crying and act like a man,” or “Can’t you see I’ve got a universe to run? Why are you bothering me with your peewee problems?”

He gives us comfort we can share. “So that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” In fact, when we care for others, the Father of mercies comforts them through us.

Is this how you see our Heavenly Father?