Hi again,
How do you love someOne you really don't know? Maybe you could have empathy for their trials, sympathy for any loss they might suffer or joy for a great feat or success they may have but can you really love them with all your heart if you do not know them?
So how do we love our Father in heaven, all communication and revelation have been from His Son, our Lord and Savior, so then how do we get to know God the Father, what is His character, what is His demeanor, His thoughts about us, what has He Himself done to show us what He is all about?
Joh 17:25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
We are familiar with so many things Jesus suffered for us, taught us and sacrificed for us, we know of His compassion for humanity and also how He loved us first, unconditionally.
Where did these Words of comfort and hope from our Lord originate from? Who set Him in place for His mission?
Joh 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
I certainly agree with Marques & Mark, this takes time to completely understand but if we attempt to love our Father doing an end around Christ our Lord we are as lost as present day Judaism, if we try to love God the Father without looking at Jesus and His attributes where is the source of knowledge to understand and love our Father?
A few more verses to contemplate;
Mat 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Luk 10:22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
Joh 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.
Peace,
Joe