Written by Sharon Jaynes
The Only Perfect Parent
Today's Truth
"In love He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will - to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely gives us in the One He loves" (Ephesians 1:5-6 NIV).
Friend to Friend
For many, the idea of God being their father may not be a pleasant one. We have a human tendency to project our perception of fatherhood, based on our own experience with our earthly fathers, onto our idea of the fatherhood of God.
Some never knew their earthly fathers, some had abusive fathers, some were deserted by their fathers, some had loving endearing fathers and some lost their fathers due to sickness or catastrophe. Even the best earthly fathers have feet of clay and will disappoint their children.
When I was growing up, I never had lengthy conversations with my father, therefore, when I became a Christian, it was very difficult for me to have lengthy conversations with my heavenly father. Prayer was difficult.
We need to remove the mask of our earthly parent from the face of God. No matter what your past experience with your earthly father has been, the truth is your Heavenly Father is the perfect parent who loves you, cares for your every need, is interested in all you do, skillfully guides you, wisely trains you, never deserts you, generously supplies for your needs, is always available to you, and cherishes you as His precious child.
God has made a way for us to clearly understand what He is like. If we want to know the Father, the only perfect parent, we have but to look at the life of His Son. Jesus said, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father...The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work" (John 14:9, 10 NIV). The writer of Hebrews explained, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word" (Hebrews 1:3 NIV). If you understand what Jesus is like, you understand what God is like and the more intimately you know the Son, the more clearly you understand the character of the Father.
Let's Pray
Dear Lord, Thank you for adopting me as your child. Even though I had many faults and failures, you chose me anyway. Lord, I pray that I will become more and more like You, my Father, every day. Do whatever it takes to make me into a child that resembles her Dad. I love You.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
Now It's Your Turn
We are called "children" of God. What does the word "child" imply?
How would you describe the perfect father?
How does Your Heavenly Father fit that description?
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