- Go with God
- Hold on
- Back to the beginning
- Considering others
- What is the world coming to?
- No justice, no peace
- A necessary intermission
- God help us
- Ripe fruit
- One more time
- Beware jealously
- Trusting God with our whole life
- The power of forgiveness
- Ask Jesus
- Don’t take the bait
- Be righteous
- Enough to start
- Yield
- Mercy
- Is anything happening?
- As we go
- An open heart
- Faith in action
- Reject rejection
- God is our dad
- Loving our enemies
- Let’s go
- Trial by fire
- Active patience
- Right this way
- Finally
By, Isam Itson III
Matthew 6:9 – Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Matthew 6:30-33 – if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
None of us is ever alone. All of us are alive today because of the presence and attention of others throughout our lives. Our mothers are with us when we are born. Our fathers, mothers, and siblings live with us and provide for our needs. They spend their time, energy, and money clothing us, feeding us, and teaching us how to live. They look out for us and guide us through life until we are able to navigate the world in light of the lessons they have taught us and the habits they have cultivated within us. We walk with them until the day we die.
Even if your mother abandoned you and you never knew your father, someone else took their place. I know this because you are reading this article. For better or worse we cannot live in isolation. Our survival depends upon people who provide for us and teach us how to live. Their voices and examples guide us throughout our life.
Again and again Jesus refers to God as our heavenly Father. The apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8:15 that we have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out to God, Abba! or Daddy! This awareness is the revelation of Jesus Christ. That the creator God, enthroned in glory and holiness, has a tender heart and attentive ear in relationship to us. He is our Father to be revered and our Daddy to be loved and trusted.
So, we need to relate to God as a loving, present, and attentive father. Honoring him, that it may go well with us and we may live a long life on the earth, and loving him, because he first loved us, giving the life of his only begotten Son for our sake. We know this because we have received his Holy Spirit who now lives within us and guides us in light of the truth of God’s word.
Knowing God loves us and is with us is the heart of following Jesus Christ. Knowing that in Christ, God has fulfilled all of his promises to his people, forever. Through Christ, God has restored our relationship, with himself and each other. Now, we are free to live the life for which God has created us.
Whatever we need to fulfill his purposes, he will certainly provide, in his time, in his way, and according to his wisdom. And we can trust him because we know, daddy loves us and knows what is best for us. We are never alone. Thankfully, God is always with us. Even when we are by ourselves.
In response
1. Meditate on the paternal nature of God ‘s love and presence throughout the day, every day.
2. Cherish the privilege of your relationship with God as your heavenly Father.
3. Respond to (a) others, (b) life’s challenges, and (c) opportunities, in a way that honors God’s loving faithful presence and his good name.