01/26/2019
When you pray do you refer to God as your Father? When you call Him by this name is it an official title, or a loving one? Sometimes we get confused about who a father is intended to be, and think to give him our respect without remembering to love him. We treat him as the head of the household, but lose sight of how much we love him and he loves us. Do we treat God the Father as a King, or do we love Him with all our heart?
“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
I am the son of a career military officer who fought in World War II, and Korea. He knew how to lead, give orders, and demand obedience. Even in retirement, others called him sir, and by his military rank, but as his child I saw him as a dichotomy, I saw him in two very different and distinct roles. His role of authority demanded my respect and obedience, but he also loved me deeply and desired me to obey him because I loved him; I loved the man beneath the uniform. Sometimes it was hard to discern which of these roles he was filling when he spoke to me. Being the child of God presents us with this selfsame dilemma, but as I grew in years and maturity I learned to distinguish the role my earthly father was speaking to me from by the tone of his voice, it is the same with our Heavenly Father. I also learned that no matter what role he was filling, he wanted my love before all else... not for me to say it, but rather that I show it. He didn’t want me to say “I love you father”, but instead he wanted to see it in my eyes, actions, and obedience. Do we love God in this way, or do we think that words and blind obedience are enough?
“And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."”
Luke 10:27 ESV
I was reading Charles Spurgeon this morning, and He made a similar point when he wrote about obeying God. He spoke of our desire and love, rather than our obligation to serve our Father, listen...
“The obedience which God’s children yield to Him must be a loving obedience. Do not perform God’s service as slaves to a taskmaster; but run to obey His command, simply because it is your Father’s desire.” - Charles Spurgeon
My earthly father expected the men under his command to obey him out of loyalty, obligation, and respect. However when he gave me an order he expected far more... his greatest desire was that I would obey him first and foremost out of love. When I look to God, and hear His will for me, and the calling He has for me, I know that He wants my unwavering obedience, I know He speaks to me from a position of authority, but also as my Father, I know He loves me, and wants me to love Him. Love makes the most difficult of God’s expectations, and commands, bearable, and possible. I think of it in Mary Poppins terms... “a spoon full of sugar [love] helps the medicine go down in a most delightful way!”
So are we mature enough in our faith to separate the commands that God our Father gives us from those that God the Creator and King gives us? Do we know the difference between the commandments and laws, as opposed to the Fatherly orders given to the child? Is our love for Him given without reservation and in its entirety just as the love of Jesus was? Is our obedience Christlike?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for being more than my creator and King. I thank you for taking me as your child, and loving me. Holy Father, I love you with all my heart, soul, and mind, and my obedience flows from the undeniable love of a child for its father. My trust is in your just and good hand, and my desire to do your will is founded on my need to please and love you always. Help me Father to obey you as your child, and not simply as a servant who serves in your house, doing your bidding based on the law and obligation. Let the depth of our relationship be fathomless, and its breadth know no bounds. Lead me Holy Spirit in the understanding of my Father’s will, and teach me to discern his plan for my life. Jesus stand with me before our Heavenly Father in judgement, and sit beside me at His table. Teach me to be a good child, and to please our Father in all things... especially in my love for Him. Father hear my voice and discern my spirit as I sing out to you; Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God and Father! Holy, Holy, Holy, are you in your love, mercy, and grace! Praised be your name Merciful Father, and great are you that I can love you without reservation! In your perfect presence I see your glory, and worship you forevermore. Your love for me is the wine in my vessel, and your Word the seal that keeps it eternally fresh. Great are you my Father who art in heaven.
Rich Forbes