Dad?

Dad?

Our devotional this week is based on the article linked below called “Sins of the Fathers,” where we talk about how important it is for parents to set good examples for their children.  Here we are going to look at how our view of our father shapes our view of God.

Most people have, at some point in their lives and to varying degrees, placed the characteristics of their earthly father on to God.   If your dad was loving and kind, you may see God that way, but what if your dad was distant, abusive, neglectful, harsh, weak, uninvolved, unpredictable or punitive?  Or what if your dad abandoned his family completely? What if he simply wasn’t a good person?  Chances are you have placed at least some of those same characteristics on your Heavenly Father.

I know I did.  My father loved me, and I knew that, but he was raised in a very stoic, unemotional way.  He didn’t like drama, which was a problem for him as my very dramatic grandmother lived with us most of the time.  To cope, he often immersed himself in his crossword puzzles or a good mystery novel.  In my youth, I saw him as detached, although I learned later that that was really not the case.

I saw God in this same way.  I knew that he loved me, but I saw him as being unemotional and basically detached from his creation.   I bought into the false view that God had put creation into motion but then left it alone for the most part, intervening only when absolutely necessary.  My understanding of God was completely off-base.  

What does the Bible say about God as our Heavenly Father?

1. He deeply loves you.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16, ESV). 
2. He manifested himself in human form so we could know him better.  “Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.’”  (John 14:9a, ESV). “’I and the Father are one.’”  (John 10:30, ESV)
3. He is strong.  “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”  (Colossians 1:16, ESV)
4. He wants to bless us with good things.  “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”  (James 1:17, ESV)
5. He doesn’t change.  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  (Hebrews 13:8, ESV). 
6. He is protective.  “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)
7. He is patient.  “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”  (2 Peter 3:9, ESV). 
8. He cares about our problems.  “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.”  (Psalm 68:5, ESV)
9. He is involved.  “‘Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?’”  (Matthew 6:26, ESV)
10. He forgives a repentant spirit and is quick to welcome us back. “‘And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.’”  (Luke 15:20, ESV)
11. He has adopted us by choice.  “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,”  (John 1:12, ESV)
12. He disciplines fairly.  “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?”  (Hebrews 12:7)
13. He listens to us.  “But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.”  (Psalm 66:19, ESV)
14. We have an eternal inheritance.  “‘Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.’”  (Luke 12:32, ESV)
15. He is perfect.  “This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.”  (Psalm 18:30, ESV)

This week, take some time to consider how you may have imposed your view of your earthly father on God the Father.  Does it line up with the true character of God as described in his Word?  How does God’s true character change your relationship to him?

Click on the link below to read the related article.

Sins of the Fathers – Kings of Israel

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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