How Much More...!

My heart is full to overflowing with the magnanimity (vastness) of the Father's heart! Just today I got word of a generous and sacrificial gesture made by a dad and mom towards their son that was not necessary nor particularly deserved, but was given purely for love's sake and because he is their son - that's all! No other reason needed!

I know these parents and I know they are imperfect; Jesus' words come to me as fitting for them: "If you then, who are evil (imperfect), know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him?"

There's lots of treasures to be mined from these words, but I want to focus here on the bigheartedness of God the Father so that our hearts are tenderized by His goodness and kindness towards us which comes our way simply because we are His children - no other reason needed! I believe that in these words, Jesus is addressing the suspicion that we fallen humans have of God because we imagine Him to be like us with our mixture of motives. So Jesus gives a picture of what fallen human parents are capable of (giving good things to their undeserving children simply for being their children), then adds, "...HOW MUCH MORE will your Father...give good things..." In other words, how much more eager and pure is the desire to give that comes from One who has absolutely not one trace of shadow or darkness in Him, One who is Pure and Holy Love and whose sole desire is for the well-being of His child even at supreme cost to Himself!

I believe that Christmas (Jesus' birth) and Easter (His death and resurrection) and His ascension and His soon return to place us in an honored position with Him throughout eternity are all loud expressions of the "how much more" of the heavenly Father! All of His giving flows out of that one great Gift of His own Life in His Son Jesus. He gives and gives and keeps on giving of Himself in His Son by His very own Spirit. If I'm moved deeply by seeing "evil" parents do extravagant and selfless things for their children for the only reason that they are their sons or daughters, how much more should I be moved by the perfect Parent who gives me good things when I ask, for the only reason that I am His daughter, no other reason needed.

If you are a parent, take a moment to consider how you would give anything for your child even when he/she is undeserving and unappreciative...THEN, in your mind's imagination, put yourself in the child role and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how much more your heavenly Father is like that towards you. Let your imagination, your heart's eye, see yourself as the one He wants to give good gifts to for the simple reason that you are His son/daughter, and bask in that kind of unconditional blessing.

If you are not a parent, pay attention to how healthy parents are with their children (and particularly when the child doesn't deserve the gift) and ask the Holy Spirit to give you a glimpse of how much more your heavenly Parent is like that towards you for the simple reason that you are His son/daughter, and revel in that reality of unconditional love.

Yes, we see this "how much more" of the Father played out in the birth, death, resurrection, ascension, and sure return of Jesus, but we also see it in living color around us in fallen human families. May the Spirit of Jesus open the eyes of our heart and imagination to see that He has bent over backwards to show us in everyday life and in His Word what His Father heart is like!

God bless you and expand your heart this season with the "how much more" of His fatherly heart!