One Father: Part 2

By Clifton Angel     There is "One ... Father" (Ephesians 4:6). Spiritual unity can only be obtained by submitting ourselves to the will of the One Father of Heaven (Matthew 7:21). Sadly, many call Jesus their Lord but do not do the Father's will. Last week, we noted that some claim Jesus as their Lord but follow the will of their earthly father (cf. Matthew 10:37), and some claim Jesus as their Lord but follow a spiritual father upon this earth (cf. Matthew 23:9).     Some claim Jesus as their Lord but follow their father the devil. The latter two scenarios are both under the umbrella of this fatherhood, if they found in contradiction with will of the One Father in Heaven. Jesus plainly said to the Pharisees, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do" (John 8:44). Those who make the devil their father are dishonest and deceived. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day ofter were looked to as religious leaders. Yet, dishonestly and deceivingly, they added to and took away from the law of God in order to establish their own standard of righteousness. Jesus said, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). He would then go on to teach His listeners how to combat and overcome the dishonest and deceiving teachings of the Pharisees (cf. Matthew 5:21–7:27). Furthermore, those who make the devil their father are those who love the world. "If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (1 John 2:15–17). In order to combat the desires of the things of this world, we must grow closer to our Heavenly Father and set our minds on the things where He is: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1–3).     Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven" (Matthew 7:21). Do you claim Jesus as your Lord? Do you follow the Heavenly Father Who sent Him?

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/