Our Perfect Father

“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 why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” 1 John 3:1-4

This passage has been so heavy on my mind and heart for a while now, it has become so personal and dear to me and I hope it will do the same for you.

Looking into this passage more, I was struck by Barnes’ commentary, which says:

“Behold, what manner of love - What love, in "kind" and in "degree." In kind the most tender and the most ennobling, in adopting us into His family, and in permitting us to address Him as our Father; in "degree" the most exalted, since there is no higher love that can be shown than in adopting a poor and friendless orphan, and giving him a parent and a home. Even God could bestow upon us no more valuable token of affection than that we should be adopted into His family, and permitted to regard Him as our Father. When we remember how insignificant we are as creatures, and how ungrateful, rebellious, and vile we have been as sinners, we may well be amazed at the love which would adopt us into the holy family of God, so that we may be regarded and treated as the children of the Most High. A prince could manifest no higher love for a wandering, ragged, vicious orphan boy, found in the streets, than by adopting him into his own family, and admitting him to the same privileges and honors as his own sons; and yet this would be a trifle compared with the honor which God has bestowed on us.”

 A couple my family is close with just recently adopted a brother and a sister from Russia who were just ready to start middle school, after the papers were completed and they were with out a doubt going to be their parents legally (they even called them mom and dad before the adoption process was finished) there were still a few things that had to be worked out. During this few month period they would fly out and see the children in Russia as much as they could. Then finally they were able to come back to America with them, as their children.

“And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Romans 8:23

 This was honestly such an amazing picture of how God has adopted us as children, though we call him “Father” we can not yet go to be with him, but we have complete assurance that he isn’t going to change his mind. When he seems far away, he isn’t, when it seems as though we are fatherless, we have a perfect father who attends to our every need and loves us beyond comparison to any earthly father ever could, for this I am truly thankful. It’s kind of amazing really, that God takes us in as sons and daughters. We are His children, beloved and taken in, once sons of the evil one and disobedience (Ephesians 2) we are now sons of the God almighty, who cares for us specifically, he knows every weakness and each pain and he never disappoints in his dealings with them.

 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:3-6

 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5

Though we may have imperfect fathers on earth, we have a perfect Father in heaven who has loved us indescribably since the beginning.

The Strive for "Happiness"

There is very much to be said on wanting to be 'happy', maybe, just perhaps, we are not meant to be 'happy', for it is quite the fleeting thing, the quickest to diminish of all emotions. It is taken by the slightest failings, by the most minor of upsets. Perhaps, I'm thinking, gratitude truly has nothings to do with what we could have and more about recognizing what we do have, for, well, what it is. Rejoicing in the small victories and being captivated in the ability to strive in merely be human. Perchance when we are thankful for the things we know, and for the things we don't (that somehow we often think we ought), that is when we find joy, possibly gratitude has nothing to do with joy, rather in the recognition and contentment in what is. Joy lasts because it rests in reality, truth. Really, sometimes I do believe that at the end of the day, the fact that we still have the courage and desire to remain standing is reason enough for joy. "O man in depths, rise, do you not know the love of the Eternal One pours through your quenched soul. Though you fail, he fails not. Though you are brought low, has esteemed you to the highest of honor?"

Jerry Bridges on Faithfulness

"The faithful person is one who is dependable, trustworthy, and loyal, who can be depended upon in all of his relationships, and who is absolutely honest and ethical in all of his affairs.  God wants us to be dependable even when it costs us. This is what distinguishes godly faithfulness from the ordinary dependability of secular society." -Jerry Bridges I was reminded of this quote the other day, when for once in my life I shut down all the assignments and internet pages on my computer and saw it on a "sticky-note." It's honestly one of my favorite quotes and a concept we can all ought to strive for. Faithfulness. One thing I am continually amazed by is God's faithfulness, truly through every trial, suffering and heartache, we can fully rely on the fact that God is perfectly reliable, without any deviation in his response to what he has promised. Yes, without a doubt this is our God, I could go on and on about it, in fact I think I have before. But what I really am wondering is, are we? Reading through what Jerry Bridges says about faithfulness again I cannot help but think of what a high calling that is. To be perfectly dependable and trustworthy, loyal to those around us in a manner that they can rely on us....even when it costs us? We cannot simply compare ourselves to the rest of society and be satisfied in our dependability because it may meet the world's standards. No, it's godly faithfulness that we are called to strive for. So, let us deny ourselves and our wants and seek to be faithful, dependable, and steadfast in what we are currently being called to do...because in the end, don't we all want to hear "Well done good and faithful servant."?