Over 2,000 years ago Jesus came to declare to the world that
the uncreated God of Heaven and Earth
is a Father who so
loved the world that He gave His only Son to die so that He may inherit a family
through the blood of His Son. As Jesus taught, He was very intentional about
speaking of God as His Father, your Father, and our Father.
Two verses in the Bible can have a different impact when you
change one word; God to Father. Genesis 1:1 could read “In the beginning the
Father...” and John 3:16 could easily read, “For the Father so loved
the world.” As we consider the truth that Jesus came and taught us to relate to
God as our Father we must actually begin to look at several places in the Word
and consider Him a Father, a 'Papa', a Dad that has real tangible affection,
feeling and emotion for His children.
Consider the many verses that speak of God's delight,
rejoicing heart and enjoyment of those that fear Him. Psalm 16:3 As
for the saints who are on the earth, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight. Job 33:26 He shall pray
to God, and He will delight in him, he shall see His face with
joy. Proverbs 8:30 I was daily His delight, rejoicing
always before Him. I approach these verses as the description of what my
Father in heaven is like and how He feels about me. The truth is He delights in
me. He takes pleasure in me. He rejoices over me. I write my name in those
verses to where it reads ‘as for Wes who lives in KC, he is my excellent son in
whom is all my delight’ (psalm 16:3). This can seem minute but beloved this is
powerful. When I speak it, pray it and sing it the most powerful thing begins to
happen... I begin to believe it! When our hearts begin to be rooted and grounded
in the truth of how our Father feels towards us we will become bold and
confident sons and daughters.
I ask myself why? Why does my Father feel this way about
me? Because I am His son and He is my Father. That’s it. Jesus said it best in
John 17:23 You (Father) have loved them as You have loved Me. This is
stunning! The same love that the Father loves Jesus He loves me. The way God
loves God is the SAME way God loves me. Unthinkable! He is a Father that is
madly in love with His children. He actually likes us, He is for us and He’s
zealous to be our Father in whom we find our strength, our comfort, our hope and
our security.
I’m a new dad these days and I can tell you that there’s
nothing that could keep me from taking joy in my son. When I think of him I’m
filled with affection, gladness and pleasure. He’s only six months old, he
cannot earn my love. He doesn’t have to do anything for it. He can barely sit up
let alone ‘do’ for me, and He doesn’t have to. He is my son! Therefore I’m full
of love and affection for him. And the scripture says if you then being evil
know how to give good gifts to your children how much more your Father in
heaven... Mt 7:11.
Rest in the knowledge that He knows your name, that He built
your frame and takes the hitghest pleasure in you. Rest in the fact that you
cannot nor ever will be expected to EARN His love. Before time began He knew
you, sent His Son--the very gloy of his image--as ransom for you. Rest knowing
that you have an eternal Father who will never fail you, who is forever proud of
you and let him embrace you with His effection!
