07/21/2020
God diligently keeps His eye upon us, but our worldly life can often distract us from looking to Him as we should. There is not a second in the day when we turn towards Him that His eyes aren’t watching us. Furthermore, He is not merely looking at us, but there is a loving interest and intensity to His gaze that makes us want to please Him more. So what are we doing to deserve those moments when we notice His eyes, and our hearts fill to overflowing, not with the love we have for Him, but that He Has for us. Have we earned the lessons He teaches us, or the love He has towards us? What is it that He sees in us as we are led towards eternity with Him that links us so completely?
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”
Psalm 32:8 ESV
I played sports as a boy, and throughout my years as a young man. My father worked hard, but he would make time to come to my practices, and games. Sometimes his job would prohibit his coming, or make him late, but as I played along I would continuously glance towards the place He typically would stand to see if he was there. I can’t tell you the feeling it brought me to find him there, and rarely was his attention directed anywhere other than on me. Afterwards he would drape his arm across my shoulders, and tell me every good thing I had done. Of course, he also instructed me in my mistakes, or advised me on things I could do to improve.
“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.”
Proverbs 3:11-12 ESV
With a few notable exceptions, our Heavenly Father is much the same. One of the key differences is that He never misses a single game or practice in our life, and He is never distracted from us for an instant, but the look we see in his eyes, the wisdom in His counsel, and the amazing feeling of love we get when we find him watching, is very nearly the same... just more intense, and perfect. There are sons and daughters whose fathers are not like mine was... there are earthly fathers who might be lacking, unloving, harsh, or undeserving of his children’s love, but God is always the perfect Father to us, and gives us of Himself without the hint of brokenness.
“For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.”
John 5:20 ESV
As children, young and old, we are instructed to honor our father, and mother...
““Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
Exodus 20:12 ESV
Then, as we become parents, even as far back as Abraham, we are told to how raise our children. Does it amaze you that this is why God chose Abraham... a fatherless man who would become a great father?
“For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.””
Genesis 18:19 ESV
And aside from teaching them, we are taught how to act towards our children so that our relationship with them will not suffer...
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:4 ESV
But most importantly, we are told as children to look towards our parents for spiritual guidance. Listen as Paul elaborates further on the commandment regarding honoring our parents, and notice the words “in the Lord”...
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”
Ephesians 6:1 ESV
Then later, as parents, we are taught how to raise our own children with an understanding of who God is, who His Son Jesus is, and how to live a life of righteousness and faith...
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6 ESV
God is Abba, our Father, and His eye is upon us always. Just as He loved Jesus, and took pleasure in Him, He also loves us... so much so that He gave Christ, His only begotten Son to redeem us. So, back to my original two questions, and my proposed answers...
The first question was “Have we earned the lessons He teaches us, or the love He has towards us?” To this the answer is “No!”, but God’s grace has made provision for that shortcoming.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”
Ephesians 2:8 ESV
And, the second question was “What is it that He sees in us as we are led towards eternity with Him that links us so completely?” God sees us through eyes filled with love, and He we are made perfect in his sight by the blood of His Son Jesus. In this way He can’t keep His eyes off of us, and He abides in us.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
1 John 1:7 ESV
Today we have learned what it means to be a child, a parent, and what scripture teaches us in regards to our behavior in each of these roles. We also have learned that even when as children, or parents, if we fail in these roles, God has made provision for our forgiveness through Jesus Christ who redeems us. So regardless of whether we are perfect fathers, mothers, or children, God remains perfect for us, and Jesus is forever our redeemer who perfects us in God’s eyes by His blood. Are you ready to be perfected today?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for loving us, and leading us towards perfecting our relationships with one another as parents, and children. Thank you Holy Father for the example you have provided us through your relationship with Jesus, and for extending that relationship to us through your mercy... and grace. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God, and our Heavenly Father. Praised be your name for your constant attention, and love. Great are you in your patience, and for teaching us how to not only love you as Abba, our Perfect Father, but to love our imperfect earthly fathers as well. Merciful are you, and unending your grace that chooses to see past our failures, and wash us pure as snow. Hear our prayers today as we ask for your help in being good children and parents, so that we can live long lives here on earth, and forevermore with you in Heaven, as your eternal family.
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,”
Ephesians 3:14-15 ESV
Rich Forbes