In this chapter, Francis focuses on God's love. For him, his early view of God came from his view of his father. His relationship with his father negatively affected his view of God for many years. When he had kids it was much different. His own love for his kids opened his eyes to how God loves him. How has your relationship with your father influenced your view of God? Has having kids changed your view of God? I know for me, I viewed God as being not really involved in people's lives on earth. I thought that Christianity was more about living a life of rules and not a relationship with God.
Later in the chapter, he writes about being wanted by God. He wants us to spend time with Him in prayer and reading His word. He wants that relationship with us like a father-son or father-daughter relationship. He is waiting for us to take a step toward him. Do you feel wanted by God, like God's son or daughter? Romans 8:14 says "because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." His love is certainly more than we can imagine. It isn't easy to fully understand "the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses all knowledge," Ephesians 3:18-19.
Why does God still love us despite us? We can't earn His love, yet many of us try. Like Francis points out, Isaiah 64:6 says our righteous acts are like filthy rags. There's nothing we can do to earn His love. But, he IS love (1 John 4:16). It is the very nature of His being. Is it hard to fathom why God would still love us?
At the end of the chapter, Francis remembers a student asking, "Why would a loving God force me to love Him (through threatening me with punishment and hell if I don't begin a relationship with Him)?" I love his response in the book, "Doesn't His courting, luring, pushing, calling, and even threatening demonstrate His love?" He's made it so very easy to come to Him. The Good News is that we can have a relationship with Him. At the end, Francis asks "Are we in love with God or just His stuff (everything he created on earth)?" Do you believe God loves you with an unending love?
Summary Questions:
- How has your relationship with your father influenced your view of God?
- Has having kids changed your view of God?
- Do you feel wanted by God, like God's son or daughter?
- Why does God still love us despite us? Is it hard to fathom why God would still love us?
- Do you believe God loves you with an unending love?
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