God Feels

I’ve been thinking a lot about how the Bible tells us that we are created in our Father’s image, just like how people see genetic similarities between themselves and their blood relatives. God created us with our senses, tastebuds to experience different flavors, ears to hear the sounds around us, eyes to see the outside world, a nose to take in aromas, touch to experience different textures for sensations to explore all things around us.  He didn’t have to do that!  Yet He thoughtfully and lovingly created EVERY detail of our being.  How difficult it must have been for Him to choose to create us with the gift of “free will” knowing fully well we could decide whether to love Him or not. To accept His love and obey His Word or not.  To accept Him as Our Savior, choose to make Him LORD OVER our lives or not… It’s not as if He didn’t know what would happen. 

DOES ANYONE CONSIDER THAT THE ONE WHO CREATED US IN HIS IMAGE HAS FEELINGS TOO?

I have wondered time and time again, WHY does He love us????  At some point in our lives each of us has experienced some form of rejection and it is painful! Imagine what it must be like for the Father, Who created us IN LOVE.  Think back to how it felt when you experienced rejection, maybe you loved someone and tried to show them that you loved them only to experience what it felt like not to have those feelings returned… Now multiply that pain by centuries and years of rejection from the people which He gave EVERYTHING including leaving the glories of Heaven, born of the virgin Mary, clothed Himself in human flesh to experience humanity and walk with us, knowing fully well that the ONLY way of redeeming mankind back to a right relationship with Him was to take upon Himself the sins of the world (your sins and mine) upon His sin-less self and dying a horrific death on the cross FOR US.  That’s what God did! Jesus rose from the dead defeating sin and death with His resurrection.  EVEN NOW He is seated at the right hand of the Father interceding on OUR behalf.  And one day soon He will return!

HOW CAN WE REJECT SUCH A GIFT?  SUCH A SACRIFICE? SUCH LOVE?

But many do… We can’t begin to feel the rejection God has felt, but He continues to love us, to give us a chance with EVERY breath we take to accept His love.  And the ironic thing about it, is when we do accept His gift of redemption, accept Jesus into our hearts as Our Savior, choose to make Him LORD OVER our lives, there are NO WORDS to describe the tremendous joy and love that floods our souls.  I speak from personal experience.  There is NO greater gift than experiencing God’s love.  Feeling His presence, doing your best to walk in accordance to His will for your life.  Knowing fully well that it isn’t “works” that gets you into the kingdom of Heaven, but God’s sacrifice, His grace, His mercy, His forgiveness, His love.  And it’s not something I could adequately find the words to express what it is like – you have to experience it for yourself.  It doesn’t mean life is going to be easier, in some cases it gets worse.  Some of you reading this have experienced persecution for your faith.  Some of you reading this are reading these words in secret, perhaps you are unable to express your faith in public.  

GOD SEES YOU! HE LOVES YOU! HE HAS HIS ARMS WRAPPED AROUND YOU! HE REJOICES IN EACH ONE THAT CHOOSES TO ACCEPT HIS PRECIOUS GIFT OF REDEMPTION! THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE!

Nothing surprises God. He is greater than ANYTHING life can throw our way.  He IS the Way, the Truth AND the Life.  And He LOVES you with an everlasting love. John 3:16 tells us:

“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.”

GOD FEELS

How would you feel if you gave EVERYTHING to show someone that you loved them and they laughed and rejected you? They mocked you? They spit on you? They rejected you in EVERY way a person could be rejected? Jesus experienced that and SO much more – including a death He didn’t deserve yet willingly experienced. Why? Because God SO loved the world.

We are such a self-centered people that we only think about what WE want.  We never consider that God feels.  He wants a relationship with us and He has done EVERYTHING He can to initiate that relationship and the Bible tells us in Revelations 3:20:

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

God will give us up until our VERY last breath to accept His love, why not do it now? Honestly, spending your life experiencing His love, fellowshipping with Him and discovering His will for your life and walking in it is a gift in and of itself!  I say this after having accepted Jesus as my Savior, making Him LORD over my life 36 years ago!  And it is a lifetime process of growth!  He is a GOOD, GOOD Father and He is patient! Holy Spirit is a Comforter and a Teacher and Guide.  Once you have accepted Jesus into your heart

HE NEVER LEAVES YOU! HE NEVER FORSAKES YOU! HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES YOU TO BE LED BY FAITH AND NOT YOUR FEELINGS!

We don’t always get it right, but He stays with us, ever patient, ever loving right up until our last breath and even then we get to spend ALL eternity with Him!  The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:9:

“But as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH, ISN’T IT TIME YOU STOPPED RUNNING FROM HIM AND TO HIM TO EXPERIENCE AND RECEIVE HIS LOVE?

The Bible says in John 15:7:

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

When you choose to accept God’s gift of redemption and confess your love for Him, He rejoices!!!!! You make God’s heart glad!!!  It’s like giving Him a hug!  If you are a parent, you know that there is no greater gift your child can give you than a hug that comes from their heart! If you want to give your Heavenly Father a hug, pray with me:

“Father God, I never thought about You having feelings before. Thank You for loving me.  Thank You for never giving up on me.  Thank You for directing me to this post.  I want to accept Your love.  I want to walk in it.  I want to make Your heart glad! I choose to accept Jesus as my Savior, make Him LORD OVER my life.  I want to experience Your love.  I want to walk in it.  Please forgive me for my sins and come into my life. Jesus, thank You for loving me and for dying for me. I accept Your gift of redemption. In Jesus’ precious name I pray, Amen.”

God loves you with an everlasting love.  He has feelings and His feelings are LOVE for His creation.  He LOVES YOU.  He has plans for you. Watch, see and experience His love personally, I KNOW you will. The best is yet to come – God’s best.