Regardless, however, of how faithfully we model our Heavenly Father, none of us approach the perfection of His character, nature, and way. This results in false impressions and interpretations in our children's minds about the most important matter of their existence, namely, who is God, and what kind of Father is He? I often pray for our children that the Lord would mercifully redeem them from the too many episodes when I failed to mirror to them the heart and hand of their Heavenly Father. Be it in word, attitude, action, or inaction, I am painfully aware that they didn't always see in my fathering the Divine parental character, nature, and way that moves us to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, at times they saw who God the Father is not, as opposed to who He is.
In our own lives, the same truth applies. No matter how godly our father and mother may have been, they did not perfectly express the fathering of God. Thus, we must seek to discover His parental ways in the perfect light and authority given for such grace.
"Every word of God is pure... The entrances of Thy words giveth light" (Proverbs 30:5; Psalm 119:130).
Only in Scripture, as illuminated and interpreted by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, can we discover without admixture of error the true nature of God. "Who art Thou, Lord?" (Acts 9:5). Of all the communication we have with our Heavenly Father after entering into relationship through Christ, none compares with the request that He would tell us who He is. The answer, discovered in ongoing consideration of the Bible, provides the very foundation of life and existence, as well as the power to become like our Father. "Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (II Corinthians 3:18).
If we have or had godly parents, let us rejoice in the gift they are to us, seeking to follow their example and heed their counsel. However, let us also realize their inability to perfectly reflect the sublime glory of our Father inHeaven. He must reveal Himself to us as He truly is. "Who art Thou, Lord?" We can ask no better question, and we can be sure that the Father who so loves us rejoices to answer. An open Bible and a heart expectant of the Holy Spirit's illumination provides the light that leads us to rightly know our Father, and thus, to increasingly walk in His character, nature, and way.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."
(Ephesians 1:3)
No comments:
Post a Comment