“See what great love the Father has lavished on us…” – 1 John 3:1 (NIV)
Think of it. The Almighty, the Invisible, the One who sees and knows everything, looks with love and compassion upon sinful, undeserving man. Not only that. He goes further and wants a relationship with us. He wants us to know Him and give our lives to Him, not because He has need of anything since “…He Himself gives life and breath to everything…” (Acts 17:25 – NLT), but wants to make us His children and provide for all our needs.
We are familiar with the earthly father in our lives who takes care of our physical needs, teaches us to ride a bike, helps us with homework, is there for our graduation and other events, and generally plays a major role in our upbringing. But our heavenly Father is so much more – a Father to the fatherless. He wants us to acknowledge Him in all our ways and allow Him to direct our paths (Proverbs 3:6). This incomprehensible God knew us from the beginning of time and made provision for us long before we appeared on earth. God never neglects His children.
A Christian lady shared with me her own struggle of raising three sons alone. She came to know the Lord during those tough times and prayed earnestly for God to show her the way. She said that one night, after a particularly hard day, she had a dream in which the Lord said to her, “I will be their Father, I will provide for them.” And He did. Even to discipline the boys as they grew, God provided earthly fathers – men in the community and the Church to guide and correct them. Today, those boys are effectively fathering their own and other children.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus spoke repeatedly of His Father and of the relationship they shared. The invitation to share in that relationship is still open today to all who would be children of God. May every man come to experience God’s love so that they can learn how to love as fathers.
Prayer
Lord, we love to call You Father. Thank You for the privilege of being called Your children. Help us walk in obedience as children should, and revere You always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Read: Jeremiah 1:6-7; John 14:23-24
Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 14:15-24; Acts 5:12-42; 2 Samuel 14; 2 Samuel 15:1-12