The Heart of the Father Is Relationship

John 17 : 1 - 3, Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. NKJV

John had a wonderful view of the relationship between Jesus and the Father. He also gives us insight into our Heavenly Father's love for us, His children (who used to be sinners). The purpose for Jesus coming to earth was to reconnect fallen man back to God as their heavenly Father... not just their Creator. There is a story in Luke that depicts the Father's heart toward us, whether we're in fellowship with Him or in rebellion against Him. The Holy Spirit instructed me to send this out as a devotion to let you know that God will always love you, but sin can separate you from His life.

Luke 15:11-14, "A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. NKJV

Just look at the heart of the father in comparison to his wayward son. Although his son was demanding, the father was very gracious and giving. The son was driven by lust and pride, but the father was moved by love. Even though the father knew what would happen to this young man's inheritance, he gave him the portion anyway.

Luke 15:20-24, "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. NKJV

As the prodigal son was returning home, his father met him and greeted him with love and affection; after they were reconciled, the father told the servants to prepare a feast for his son that was (dead), but now was alive.

Take notice how the father treated the son... both when his son was leaving and when he decided to return home. The father's love never changed, but the attitude of the son did. This story reveals the heart of our heavenly Father. He will lavish His love on us whether we're in pride like the prodigal, or headed back home. 

Although the father never stopped loving his son, the sin that was in the son's heart separated him from his earthly father. John tells us in chapter 3 that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. God never stopped loving mankind after the fall, but our sin separated us from having a relationship with Him. As Christians, if we choose to walk in sin, it will adversely affect our relationship with God. Sin severs the line of communication between us and our heavenly Father.

The father in the story never esteemed his riches over having a relationship with his sons. Likewise, the heavenly Father gets pleasure in the prosperity of His children, because He is all about intimate relationship. Is there a sin, or an iniquity in your heart today that has separated you from having true fellowship with your heavenly Father? If so, then confess your faults to Him, because He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. He cleanses us as well as forgives us so that we won't have the desire to go back into the sin or iniquity of the past.  

Walking in Fellowship With the Father,
Pastor Asa