For our meditation today let me highlight this verse from 1 John 3:1, “See how much the Father has loved us! His love is so great that we are called God's children—and so, in fact, we are.” (GNB)
Can you imagine the amazing love God the Father has lavished on us, that we have the wonderful status of being called the ‘children of God. Everyone who has accepted the Lord Jesus, and made Him the Lord of their lives, have the blessed privilege, and esteemed position of being called sons and daughters of God. Sometimes when parents are distressed about the behavior of their children, they would disown them, and be ashamed to call them their own. However, no matter how many our faults and failures are, God the Father is still gracious to call us His children. On the one hand we have so many benefits from being children of God, but on the other hand, we also have many responsibilities as well. Both are equally important, and sadly many want the privileges without taking on the responsibilities.
As we explore the love of God, let us understand the entitlement that is ours. The only way we can come to God the Father who is Almighty, holy, without beginning or end, is through His son Jesus Christ. Only through Jesus we have the boldness and access into the presence of a holy God.
Let me highlight to you some of the fathers who are mentioned in the bible so we can learn some lessons from their lives. Though man fell in sin, there is still a remnant of the image of God that can be seen in all men. As we study the lives of these fathers we will be able to understand as to how much greater is the love of God for us.
A father who protected his family
We read in Hebrews 11:7, “By faith Noah, having being warned by God concerning the things not yet seen, being reverent, prepared an ark for the salvation of his household” (EMTV)
During the days of Noah the people were so wicked that God decided to destroy them. Noah had to set aside all that he was doing to construct the huge ark, and focused all of his time and energy on this project. The ark was not a small boat, but was a huge ship which was 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. Not sure how many years it took for Noah to complete the ark, whose height would have probably been that of a four or five storied building. This sure must have been an arduous task for Noah.
Though Noah was obeying the command of God to build the ark, he was also concerned about the safety and future of his family, and the generations to come. Here was a father who set aside his own work and personal agendas, and made a huge sacrifice to protect his children. If a human father had so much love for his children, how much greater is the love that God the Father has towards all of us His children.
There are many who wonder why a God of love should punish people who do wrong. Let us say a person has a wound in their toe, which they neglect for a while, and it gets badly infected. If they went to the doctor, and the doctor suggested that they have to amputate that toe, as that infected toe could become dangerous to their lives. Most probably, the person will be willing to accept the doctor’s advice though it may seem adverse to them. So also, if God were to allow wickedness to grow, it would cause much damage to everyone. Therefore, God has to destroy evil so that good can flourish.
The magnitude of God’s love
The extent of God’s love is explained beautifully in Romans 8:32, “For God has proved his love by giving us his greatest treasure, the gift of his Son. And since God freely offered him up as the sacrifice for us all, he certainly won’t withhold from us anything else he has to give.” (TPT)
God who created man, even when man fell into sin, sent His only begotten son into the world to redeem all of mankind. Since Jesus lived a sinless life, and took upon Himself the sins of all mankind, we have the blessed privilege of being called sons and daughters of the Most High God. The God who did not spare His own son, and gave Him as a sacrifice to us all, will He not along with Him give us all good things.
There’s story of a wealthy man who lost his wife, and had a daughter whom he loved dearly. The one thing he treasured apart from his daughter was an audio system which was highly priced. Apart from spending time with his daughter, he would find solace with his music system. When the daughter came of marriageable age, the man got her married, and his daughter moved away to her husband’s home. A month later when the daughter and son in law came home, the young man was so enamored by the audio system that he asked his father in law if he could have it. Without any hesitation, the father of the girl immediately offered the audio system to his son in law. He told his son in law, ‘I have given you my only daughter whom I love so much, and you can certainly have this audio system for it is nothing compared to her.’
Imagine the kind of love that God the Father demonstrated to us when He sent His only begotten son into this world, to be the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. The God who did not withhold His most beloved Son, will most certainly not retain any good thing from us. Oftentimes, when faced with hardships and difficulties, many people doubt if God really loves them. Be assured that God knows and He loves you no matter what you encounter. We can say this with surety because God did not even keep back His own son, but willingly offered Him up to be a sacrifice for all of us.
There are many parents who worry about their children, their future, career, marriage and many other matters. Cast all your anxieties on the Lord, stand firm in His love and the Lord will do everything well so that you will receive wonderful blessings from His hands.
The father who longed for his son
Absalom was the son of King David and he murdered Amnon, who was also a son of David. After committing this crime, Absalom fled from his father’s presence in fear, and hid in another town. It is indeed intriguing that as a father David did not hate Absalom for his action, but rather these were the feelings of David for his son Absalom.
We read in 2 Samuel 13:39, “but when he got over Amnon's death, he was filled with longing for his son Absalom.” (GNB)
Absalom was a murderer, but David missed his son when he fled from him, and yearned for his return. The heart of every good father will grieve and miss a son who is separated from him. David loved his son Absalom, and this affection he had for his son could not be concealed.
The father who trusted his son completely
Absalom was later brought back to Jerusalem because of the graciousness of his father David. After Absalom got back, he lay low for a while, and then he began to covet his father’s throne. Gradually Absalom weaved his way in, and stole the hearts of the people to turn them against his father David. In spite of this treachery, David fully trusted his son Absalom. I am certain that in those days there would have been informants who told David about his son’s activities. However, David was not doubtful about his son Absalom, but rather trusted him completely.
We read in 2 Samuel 15:7-9, “After four years Absalom said to King David, "Sir, let me go to Hebron and keep a promise I made to the LORD. While I was living in Geshur in Syria, I promised the LORD that if he would take me back to Jerusalem, I would worship him in Hebron." "Go in peace," the king said. So Absalom went to Hebron.” (GNB)
The petition that Absalom made to his father David was that he wanted to go to Hebron to fulfill a vow that he had made. Absalom had a treacherous heart, and had schemed to declare himself king once he reached Hebron. David might have had some inkling about this, but nevertheless, he chose to completely trust his son Absalom. David’s heart towards Absalom was the same even till the end of Absalom’s life. In the last part of Absalom’s life, when Absalom’s men and David’s men were at war, David requested his men to spare his son’s life. David was not a perfect man, he had many flaws, but we can still see the evidence of the loving heart of a father who wouldn’t give up on his unfaithful son till the very end.
If an earthly father like David could love his son the way he did, how much more our heavenly Father will love those of us who are His children. In many a heart there is confusion if God could love them, because of the way they have lived and the wrong choices that they have made. Do be assured that the Lord loves you just as you are. God knows your failings and faltering and He sympathizes with you because, the word of God reminds us that Jesus was tempted in all points just as we are yet was without sin. Jesus is therefore able to help us in our weaknesses and even now intercedes for us to God the Father on our behalf.
There is no need to fear or worry, but just get rid of your guilt, and be assured that God loves you. Every time your heart condemns you, reminding you of your sins from the past, tell yourself that God has forgiven you. God who has given His own son on our behalf, will not hold your sins against you. Our Father in heaven loves you with an everlasting love so don’t give room for any doubt or wavering. You can go out in peace, and allow the peace of God to fill your hearts.
God has given us the position of being His children, let us stand firm in it, and thank God for His love. The ploy of Satan is to prompt us to sin and when we do so, he fills our heart with guilt and leaves us drowning in shame.
When Judas Iscariot was tempted by Satan, he plotted against Jesus, and took money from the chief priests to betray Jesus. However, when he knew that Jesus was condemned to die, Judas was so grief stricken that he decided to return the money back to the chief priests who bribed him. Sadly, they ignored him and were unwilling to have anything to do with Judas Iscariot. That’s exactly how Satan functions. He traps someone into sin, and then drowns them with guilt that could even lead to death.
Let me remind you that God loves you, and if you cannot comprehend this love and remain in it, you will go astray, and be separated from God. This will lead to doubts and discouragements. Know that in spite of all of your sins and weaknesses, the Lord loves you, and when you recognize His love, you will refrain from doing those things that displease God.
If a child had a father who is strict, and who disciplines him often, the child may feel it would be good if the father goes away, or if he could go elsewhere. I can assure you that as the child grows older, he will look back and value the discipline of his father, for he will understand that this discipline had love as its basis. When that happens the love between father and son becomes even more strong and binding.
Let us thank God for His love, and that He trust us so much. God has entrusted us with so much and we must make the best use of everything we have to fulfill His purposes for our lives. The blood of Jesus has cleansed us from all our sins, and there is no need for us to continue to live with the guilt of sin in our hearts.
The father who made recompense for his son
We read in Philemon 1:10, “So I make a request to you on behalf of Onesimus, who is my own son in Christ; for while in prison I have become his spiritual father.” (GNB)
This incident recorded in the book of Philemon, happened when Paul was in prison at Rome. Philemon was a wealthy man, and Onesimus was a slave in his home. Onesimus had stolen some things from Philemon, and run away to Rome. In Rome, Onesimus met Paul, and by his association with Paul, Onesimus got converted, and became a believer in the Lord Jesus. Onesimus served Paul in prison, and it was Paul’s desire to have Onesimus get reconciled with his master Philemon. In the mean while the relationship and bonding between Paul and Onesimus was so strong that their relationship was like that of a father and son.
Onesimus was just a slave, and it was in this context that Paul wrote a letter to Philemon. Paul as a spiritual father is found to be pleading with Philemon on behalf of his son Onesiumus, who became a son to him in the Lord.
The heart of a good father will always petition on behalf of his children.
We read in Philemon 1:18, “If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to my account.” (GNB)
Paul was willing as a father to take on the responsibility, and pay for the things that his son Onesimus had stolen. All that Onesimus owed Philemon, Paul was ready to take upon himself and clear all the debts that Onesimus owed.
This is an exact picture of what God the Father did for us through Jesus Christ.
A father who desired a better position for his son
We read in Philemon 1:15-16, “It may be that Onesimus was away from you for a short time so that you might have him back for all time. And now he is not just a slave, but much more than a slave: he is a dear brother in Christ.” (GNB)
As Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon, with a letter of recommendation, he requested Philemon to take him back not as a slave, but as a dear brother in Christ. The heart of a father is that the position of his son should be elevated.
God the Father too desires that His children should have a place of prominence. The Lord wants to take us to higher ground each day, and enable us to remain in those places of eminence. Often we grumble and murmur not understanding the extent of God’s love. There is no need to grow weary.
Paul re-iterates it this way in Philemon 1:17, “So, if you think of me as your partner, welcome him back just as you would welcome me.” (GNB)
In his letter Paul requests Philemon to accept and think of Onesimus, just as he would welcome and consider Paul.
This was the exact same way God the Father accepted His Son Jesus, and gave testimony that He was His beloved Son in whom He was well pleased. The Lord has transformed us into His sons and daughters so that we too can live such lives that would be totally pleasing to God the Father.
In conclusion, let me summarize all that we looked at in this message. A father is willing to do anything to protect his children, so also God the Father gave His Son Jesus up on the cross so that we could be saved and protected. A good father will give what is needful to his child at the right time. Whatever you are praying for, know that God will give you what you ask according to His will and in His time. The heart of a father trusts his child completely. If you are wondering whether God will trust and accept you, be certain that no matter what your sin is God loves you and accepts you just as you are. Satan’s job is to make you believe a lie that God does not love you. Do not be deceived, but rejoice in the love that God has lavished on you. As you remain in the love of the Father, God will do mighty wonders, you will understand His love, and be able to bask in that love.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
