The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"Call Me Father"
"Call me Robert."
I have long thought of him only as "Mr. Wilson." More than forty years ago, I worked at the same bank with the gentleman, although I didn't know him well. I have prayed for Mr. Wilson since that time, along with others from my time at the bank, and recently he moved into a retirement community where we conduct services. Mr. Wilson approached me after a meeting one day, reintroduced himself after so many years, and indicated he had been going through some difficult times lately. We prayed together in an overwhelming moment after having prayed for him for so long from afar.
Yesterday, he approached me again. "Hello, Mr. Wilson," I said, "it's great to see you."
"Call me, Robert" he said. I was blessed by his request, and also realized in the moment that a glorious spiritual truth presented itself through Robert's graciousness.
"Our Father, which art in Heaven" (Matthew 6:9).
The Lord Jesus Christ taught believers to refer to God in the most personal terms. Indeed, if we could hear our Creator's voice in this lifetime, He might well say, "Call Me Father." Overwhelming indeed, especially in the light of several blessed considerations.
First, the One who beckons us to address Him in such personal terms is the infinite, eternal God whose being transcends all understanding. "I am undone" declared the prophet Isaiah upon seeing this glorious One (Isaiah 6:5). Moreover, the Apostle John fell "as dead" at the feet of the Lord Jesus upon seeing Him in His glory" (Revelation 1:17). To realize that so great a God calls us to know Him in the most personal terms should astound and bewilder us upon first consideration. "Our Father?" Wondrous, and may we ever realize the staggering marvel of the invitation.
The God who calls in such personal terms is also the God against whom we have sinned, to the degree we are all responsible for the suffering and death of His beloved Son. "He died for all," rendering every human being culpable for Christ's sacrifice (II Corinthians 5:14). Of course, the Lord's death serves as the means of grace whereby He redeems us from our sins unto newness of life, and yes, unto family relationship with God whereby He becomes our Father. Former enemies with blood on their hands become redeemed sons and daughters with Christ in our hearts, "dear children" privileged to address God as "Our Father" (Ephesians 5:1).
A final thought. Relating to God as Father powerfully motivates and enables our devotion to Him. It speaks of grace and our completely undeserved place in "the whole family of Heaven and earth" (Ephesians 3:15). It also bears witness to truth, the reality of "how great salvation" blesses the believer by so great a Savior (Hebrews 2:3). Indeed, when we consider the measures our God undertook to spiritually birth us as sons and daughters, how can we not seek to respond in love to the One who desires we know Him in such personal terms. As the old saying suggests, to become our Creator, God had to speak. To become our Father, His Son had to bleed.
"Call me Robert." I won't forget the moment, when an old colleague became a friend. Nor will I forget the ray of light glimmering in Robert's words that also caused me to think of the One who would say to those who trust Him, "Call Me Father.'
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God."
(I John 3:2)
"Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."
(Galatians 4:7)
Weekly Memory Verse
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men, for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
(I Timothy 2:1-2).
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