God is serious about relationships. And we see in Malachi 4:4-6 just how serious He is about the pattern of fathers and children, children and fathers. Malachi 4:6 - And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.
The heart here is more than just emotion. Heart - (labe) - inner man, mind, will, heart, seat of courage, understanding.
- Turning of one soul toward another
- Having the courage to do so
- Coming to an understanding
And turning that heart? Sounds like repentance!
While, yes, natural fathers and children should have their hearts turned toward one another, this is talking about a spiritual principle.
This turning must happen lest God “curse” the earth.
God's saying: I CANNOT work with you all unless there is someone first willing to listen to me and do what I say (really catching My heart, not just the letter of the law), then willing teach and instruct, and then someone willing to listen and follow.
It is His heart that He means to pass on all the way down the line, from fathers to children.
Can you relate?
Can we be a father to God's lost children (no doubt the very people around us in our every day lives), with the same care and compassion, concern for their future, desire to see them grow and flourish, as we would for our natural children?
Can we be a child that follows the example of the father (in the Lord) in front of us? Maybe not understanding everything that father does, but showing enough trust and desire to know their heart?
Everyone is someone's child... regardless of age and whether or not they have kids.
In this week's blog:
Share anything that helped you relate. Relate to The Father, your father-in-the-faith, the "children" around you.
What does "turning your heart", "coming to an understanding" mean to you in this context?
Share anything that came alive to you, that touched your heart, that gave you the courage to turn.
Love the message and even the summary of the blog post! Excellent Nate!
Share anything that helped you relate. Relate to The Father, your father-in-the-faith, the "children" around you. Whew! I can relate! Where do I start! Children! My students are all someone's children and many of them are someone's children who need a father. I saw the shift mid school year when I desired to "father" them. I'm reminded by your message that it has to happen even when they are "not doing good." My Father, nor my father-in-the-faith doesn't turn his back on me when I am in the "messy middle" of life.
What does "turning your heart", "coming to an understanding" mean to you in this context?…
I can relate to becoming a child of God. and becoming a father figure to the lost and empty . 'Jeremiah 1:15
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.and before you were born I consecrated you.I Appointed you A prophet to All the Nations. Wow what passage when I read this in the bible Liam came to mind watching him up on the popet the first thing that came to mind.was his age of 11 he most definitely will be a profit of The father
What a great word Rabbi Nate! The first thing that I find that relates to me is. The thing that comes out to me is the statement when I was child I acted as one, I spoke like one and I thought like one. When we were childish or act like a child it should not be easily misunderstood as being a father. It would same attributes sewing your father you act and talk like one. . . It will be evident in our response!
What is turning my heart mean?
Definitely being linked to The Father's heart. Not just saying you're okay where you're at but being aware and knowing the need for a developed relationship. . . …
The power for one's heart to be changed is what the spirit of the Father can produce, accomplish and do when he finds a heart that becomes willing.
It's still what he desires to do what he knows needs to take place so that the next generation can walk in truth.
Turning our hearts and beginning to see and understand people the way God created them and made them. Then as we worship and give praise to God for what he has created. Our words will be life, they will be the words that may have never been spoken over people's lives because it takes the spirit of the Father to see what he has done.
Spending time with people,…
Share anything that helped you relate. Relate to The Father, your father-in-the-faith, the "children" around you. A father's heart is toward THE children. Real fathers see children. Not just their children, but children in general. And that is so true! Once you become a parent you notice all of the children in the room and not just your own. Seeing them brings a level of love and care that you don't have when you are not a father.
In the natural, children were an annoyance to me before I became a parent. It made me realize that if those who lack instruction or maturity annoy us, then maybe we haven't become fathers and caught the heart of THE Father. Fathe…