In Touch - April 22, 2005

Friday April 22, 2005

Expressions of God’s Fatherhood

Matthew 6:8-13

 

God expresses His Fatherhood to us through His desire to have an intimate relationship with us. The first line of the Lord’s Prayer—“Our Father who is heaven, hallowed be Your name” (v.9)—moves from His Fatherhood to His holiness. In one sentence, Jesus shows us that we can have a personal relationship with God although He is absolutely holy and without fault. This prayer has a sense of transparency, which speaks of a close relationship. We can ask our Father to provide our daily needs and completely forgive our sins; we can ask Him to give us the power to forgive others who sin against us.

 

When we quiet ourselves before God, we will be able to sense His presence, and He will reveal more of who He is. We will also better understand His desire to communicate with us and show His love. We can trust that He hears us. If He wasn’t listening, why would Jesus have said, “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Luke 11:9)?

 

God’s unconditional love is the greatest expression of His Fatherhood—His love does not differ between those who accept and those who reject Him. Unfortunately, whoever rejects God positions himself in such a way that he cannot enjoy His love. But when we “remain” in Christ’s unconditional love by following Him, we are able to enjoy its fullness. (John 15:9-11)

 

The Lord promises to be with us forever. (John 14:16-18) How awesome to have a Father who is intimate with us, speaks to us, and offers us unconditional love that will never end.

 

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