A DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF "HEART" is "one's innermost being... the essential part." The Father Heart of God describes that foundational element that characterizes who He is. Through His words in the Scriptures, JESUS described God as a merciful... forgiving... kind... and loving... Father. Through His life He demonstrated our heavenly Father's very nature.

PEOPLE ASK, "IF THERE IS A GOD... what is He like?" The Bible says the God is not a finite being like you and me... but made Himself known to us in such a clear, understandable way that we can know what He is like. "No one has ever seen God... only the Son... He has made Him known.

I BELIEVE THAT GOD LOOKS LIKE JESUS. JESUS once said, "IF YOU HAVE SEEN ME YOU HAVE SEEN THE FATHER" (John 14:9). JESUS is God in human form. We find many examples of how JESUS revealed the Father to us in the Bible. One example of this is found when some Jewish mothers wanted JESUS to bless their children... but His disciples thought He was too busy... too important... to be bothered by these mothers. But JESUS scolded His disciples and told them to bring the children to Him. He took the children in His arms... and talked to them. He had time for them. He had time to listen to their stories and hear about their games. He didn't mind getting dirty from the little kids sitting on His lap... runny noses and all. Through seeing how JESUS had time for the little children, we learn that God has time for people. He cares... even about the little things in life. He is patient. GOD THE FATHER LOOKS LIKE THE SON.

ON ANOTHER AFTERNOON JESUS stopped to talk to a Samaritan woman by a well. At that time, Samaritans were hated and despised by the Jewish people. Women were considered second class citizens... and incapable of comprehending spiritual truths.

JESUS ELEVATED THIS WOMAN to a place of equality and value by the mere fact that He broke social custom and spoke with her publicly. In doing so, He futher revealed what God is like. By directly discussing this woman's spiritual needs with her, JESUS demonstrated His concern for her personally and showed that God cares for her also. JESUS also showed that God the Father cares... for men and women equally.