DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: MARCH 25 TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING GOD AS A FATHER (1) SCRIPTURES: Matt 7: 9 – 11; Isaiah 63: 16; Psalm 68: 5; 103: 13
God’s fatherhood is the foundational idea for Christianity. The gospels refer to God as Father over 170 times, even the Lord’s prayer begins with “Our Father”. Jesus exhorts His followers to “call no one father, for you have a Father who is in heaven “(Matt 23: 9). He also redefined the disciples’ biological relationship by telling them to leave their families if need be and providing them a new family identity based on relationship with God through Him. (Matt 12: 46 – 50) “Father in heaven” is the guiding word about the life and values of the followers of Jesus, who recognize God as their Father in heaven. (Matt 7: 21) therefore, doing “the will of The Father in heaven” is the essential requirement for entering into the kingdom of heaven.
As a Christian, have you ever wondered about the person of God the father? Whenever we think of God even as Christians, we are in awe and in fear because the image we have of a father figure, who is somewhere up there in heaven, ready to punish offenses instantly. However, that is a wrong impression because, when you study the Bible, you will discover that He is a kindhearted, loving, and faithful God. He is a compassionate father who loves us more than we love Him. He does not always deal with us according to our sins, or as much as we deserve.
God the father is love itself. When man fell in the Garden of Eden, God had to drive him out of paradise because of disobedience. Since then, He had wanted to reconcile man to Himself. The only way He could do that was for Him to release His Son to die to atone for the sins of man. The Bible says in Heb. 9: 22, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without the shedding of blood, there is no remission for sins.”
Sometimes, we don’t just appreciate the magnitude of this sacrifice that God the father made just to reconcile man to Himself.
PRAYER POINTS:
(1) Father God, erase every wrong impression I have about you from my heart. And purge my heart of every wrongdoings.
(2) Enable me to see you as a father who is loving, kindhearted, and compassionate, so that I can enjoy my relationship with you.
CONFESSION:
I have a new family identity based on my relationship with God. Hallelujah!!!
God is my father!!!!
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