A Father’s Love
My best friend is a mom. An amazing one. There are definitely challenges that come along with her role. I think watching her be a mom has opened up a new way of viewing the Lord and his love of his children. I don’t have any children, but my best friend’s baby, who is the closest thing I’ve had to a niece, has changed my view of God’s love.
It’s hard to grasp the love of God from a parental view, when all you know is from the point of view as a child.
Being able to see my niece grow, her personality form, and her adventurous form of discovery gives me a sense of wonder. The fact that the Lord talks about us as His children, what this means, and how He views us leaves me in awe.
Here are just a few times the Lord calls us His children:
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” (John 1:12).
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason that the world does not know us is that it did not know him,” (1 John 3:1).
Now we know that we are his children, what does this mean for us?
1. We are part of His family.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus,” (Galatians 3:28).
“So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another,” (Romans 12:5).
We are all in this family together. And like a family, we love each other, we encourage one another, and we hold each other accountable. We are immediately adopted into a place of belonging without exception.
2. We are given everything and want for nothing.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light,” (1 Peter 2:9).
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose,” (Romans 8:28).
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,” (Isaiah 41:10).
“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).
He gives us a new identity, He gives us a plan and a purpose, and he gives us strength and protection. Most of all, in a relationship with Him, we are given grace and mercy. We are left wanting nothing.
3. We are given promises regarding our eternity- and our eternity is secure.
“…and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” (Ephesians 2:6).
“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory,” (Ephesians 1:11-14).
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life,” (John 5:24).
God loves us. He wants us to be in relationship with Him for eternity.
God’s love is incomprehensible.
Not all of us have had the perfect example of a parent’s love. I’m lucky, but I know that there are plenty who don’t have a grasp of understanding of love from that perspective. But, when trying to understand the love of God, we are all inadequate to comprehend.
The love of a Father is more than just what we know as love. It’s a personal, present, all-consuming, adoring kind of love. It’s something we can taste in this lifetime but will never fully grasp. It’s a love that can shelter and protect, bring peace and reassurance, and can change and transform.