Some are troubled with the idea of God being their Father because their physical father was absent, unkind, or even abusive to them. My dad was none of those things. He was a hard-working farmer with common sense and much humor. However, God teaches me that even though He also is a hard worker and often has a twinkle in His eye, He is different than my dad. For instance, because doctors told him I would not live long, dad was indulgent and gave me what I wanted. God is not that kind of a father.
In Bible days, the gods people worshiped were distant, unpredictable, and immoral. Jesus’ words about God being Father were revolutionary. The Jews should have understood but their sin and apostasy separated them from any sort of intimacy with God, never mind the closeness that fatherhood suggests.
The Bible reveals that calling God Father means having faith in Jesus Christ through the powerful work of God’s Spirit and being set free from the bondage of sin:
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:14–17)
This privilege is not for the ‘religious’ who are working to earn salvation, not is it for all people because of creation. While the Lord is involved in our existence, calling Him Father is about a relationship in which we have become His children.
(Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:10–13)
His children also recognize that seeing Jesus is the same as seeing their heavenly Father. When Philip asked Jesus to show him the Father, Jesus replied, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). That is, recognizing the deity of Christ is part of what it means to know the Father.
Knowing Him this way means having eternal life, but it is also about experiencing His loving care in this life. Jesus said:
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3)
Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:31–33)
It also means being disciplined, just as a loving father trains his child . . .
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you must endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:5–11)
Dear Jesus, in conversations with others, I often speak highly of my father, yet I know that my heavenly Father is the greatest ‘Abba’ of all. I’m so thankful that You made it possible to know Him, talk to Him, be aware of His love and care. Enable me to respond as a thankful and obedient child.
READ: Psalm 89. What did God do for David that enable him to cry out, “You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation” (verse 26). How much of that applies to me also?
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