Abba, Father
I realize daily how great a dad I have! It especially rings true on those challenging days, when my children are being difficult. “James, clean your room!” “Lottie, stop talking back to your mother!” “Why aren’t you two listening?” Every time, without fail, I have this little sense of guilt about how I treated my dad when he asked me those same questions. How many times did I not listen or not clean my room when asked? I apologize to him frequently for my childhood misbehaviors, especially now that I have my own kids. He’s as patient now as he was then, and is always quick to give encouragement.
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:8
My dad did, and still does, a great job of providing a picture of Christ’s love. Even when I messed up. Even when I failed to listen or obey the simplest of tasks being asked of me, I know that my dad’s love for me didn’t change. He wanted me to listen, obey, and live up to the standard he expected of me, but his love for me wasn’t predicated on my achieving it. He loved (loves) me despite my faults, just as Christ loves me. Christ loved me and made a way for me even while I was a sinner, and still loves me now even though I fail Him daily. God’s love for us isn’t conditioned on our ability to be “good” but rather is offered freely through Christ Jesus.
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” - Romans 8:32
When I was in middle school and high school, I would get invited to come over to a friend's house, and there were just some times that I didn’t want to go. Not cause I was mad at the friend or anything, just didn’t feel like hanging out that day. That can be a hard situation to navigate, cause if I just say flat out “no, I don’t want to come over”, they might get mad at me. So what did I do? I blamed my dad! “Sorry, John, my dad said I can’t come over today.” Then, after hanging up the phone, I would call my dad to tell him. “Oh, Dad, by the way, you told me I couldn’t go to John’s house.” It was the perfect out! Let my dad pay the price and take the blame so I didn’t have to!
Just as God loves us despite our failings, God paid the price so that we might be saved. He took the blame so that we might be spared! God gave up His own Son so that the penalty of sin could be paid. If we believe in Him, belong to Him, we don’t need to feel the sting of sin and death, for our victory has already been paid for on the cross. This is the wonderful nature of our Heavenly Father! The never-failing Father who will love us and make a way for us! As we celebrate Father's Day this month, I hope that most of us can reflect upon our earthly fathers and be thankful for the love they have shown us. For others, who didn’t experience that love here on earth, I leave you with this quote from Henry Blackaby…
“This is what a father is like biblically. If this has not been your experience, it can be now. There is One who has adopted you and who wants to love you in a way you have never experienced. Take comfort and strength from Him-your heavenly father.”
Love you and mean it!
