By Bill Brandstatter
God is our Father.
There are other religions that cannot make this claim of the one they worship.
Christians can address God on a personal level. Jesus prayed, “Our Father which
art in heaven.” (Matt. 6:9) Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God (John
3:16). Jesus had been with God from eternity (Phil. 2:5-8; John 1:1). He came
from the Father (John 17:1-3).
God is the Father
of all. The writer of Hebrews refers to him as the “Father of spirits” in
chapter 12 verse 9. In a very real sense, He is our Father. Malachi wrote,
“Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?” (Mal. 2:10) Paul
stated, “We are his offspring” (Acts 17:28, 29).
God is the Father
of all Christians. In another very special sense, He is the head of the family
(Eph. 3:15). Christians are begotten by God’s Word (1 Peter 1:3; 1 Peter 1:22,
23). Sinners by conversion become the adopted sons or children of God (Rom.
8:14-17). Faith and baptism give us a special relationship as children (Gal.
3:26, 27). Anyone can be part of God’s special family (Gal. 3:28).
God is the Father
that loves us. God demonstrated His love for us. Paul writes that “while we
were sinners Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8) God’s love is not sentimental or emotional.
It is the kind of love that is sacrificial. He gave His only begotten Son (John
3:16). God sent His son into a sin-filled world. He sent His son to die for the
world. God’s love abounds in the lives of the obedient. (Eph. 1:3; 3:20) He has
made it possible for us to show our love for Him. John helps us in
understanding by writing; “For this is the love of God, that we keep His
commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 Jn. 5:3 NKJV) So,
God demonstrated His love for us and we must demonstrate our love for Him.
Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love
him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. (John 14:23)
God is a Father
that wants to be first in our lives. God loves us but He wants to be first in
our lives. He knows what we need. In Ex. 20:5, God declares: “For I, the LORD
your God am a jealous God.” God said previously “You shall have no other gods
before Me.” (Exo. 20:3) Those who do not put God first will suffer the
consequences. Jeremiah wrote the Lord’s words: “Thus they have loved to wander;
They have not restrained their feet. Therefore the LORD does not accept them;
He will remember their iniquity now, And punish their sins.” (Jer.14:10) Let us
put God first, and He will take care of us (Mt. 6:33). He does His part, and we
must do ours.
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