Good day
In today’s message I’d like to discuss the similarities between being a parent and God being a Father to His children, and the encouragement we can draw from this.
The bible refers to God as our Father (1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 4:6, Isaiah 64:8, John 14:9-11, Matthew 6:26) and in the following passages we can see that we are called His children:
I John 3:1 (NKJV) - Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!
Galatians 4:4-7 (NLT) - But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.
Consider for a moment how a baby is totally dependent on the parent for shelter, clothing, food, bathing them, changing their nappies, putting them to sleep, etc. And even though the baby will grow up and become a teenager, there's always some responsibility the parent has to fulfil. Even when that teenager becomes an adult and may even have children of their own one day, in one way or another, there’s always something the parent may be called upon to assist them with. This level of love, commitment and faithfulness from the parent to the child remains constant. It’s something the child is aware of and for the most part doesn’t even think twice about - it’s almost expected that the parent will just always be there to help them out whenever needed.
The similarities we can draw from this is that in the same manner where the baby is dependent upon their parent for all things, we can also rely upon God and be totally dependent on Him as our loving Heavenly Father.
Though we may grow up and will experience times of stress, frustration, anxiety and worry, we need to remember in those moments that we don't have to take on everything ourselves in our own strength but that we have a "Parent" who loves us, who is there for us and is ever ready to come to our aid and help us - even when we don't deserve it! That in the same way the parent loves their children and desires to do things for them, that God desires the same and even more for us as His children (Matthew 7:9-11)
The big difference with God though, is that His level of faithfulness, mercy and commitment towards us as His children far surpasses any human love a parent can bestow upon their children. One of the ways in which God has demonstrated His love and commitment towards us is seen in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
John 3:16-17 (NLT) - “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him."
This verse tells us how valuable we are to Him - You can tell the value/worth that someone places on something by what they're prepared to exchange/swap for that item, or by what they're prepared to pay for that item.
God saw us and wanted to have a relationship with us so much that He was prepared to offer up His Son in exchange for it ... This is the value God places on our lives! ... we are worth so much to Him that He was willing to make an exchange, willing to make a sacrifice, willing to pay the price in the form of Jesus Christ, to get us back! (To clear our name, to pay the price we should've paid, to offer us a new beginning, to give us hope, to offer us eternal life by placing our faith in Him). We now have eternal redemption because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ ... this is the value and worth that God places on you and me.
1 John 4:9-10 (NKJV) - In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (payment) for our sins.
Romans 5:7-8 (AMPC) - Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor someone might even dare to die. But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.
Please know today that you matter - that your life means something! - that your life is of great worth and value to God! … Know today that you can have hope because of Him, because of His love towards you! (1 John 4:18) … Let's allow Him to be a Father to us and welcome His love and mercy in our lives, for we His children and He is our loving Heavenly Father!
I’d like to invite you to please pray the following prayer:
"Heavenly Father, I come before you now and I accept your love. I believe that you love me, and just like a parent desires only good for their children, I believe you want the same for me. I humble myself right now - I lay aside all cares and concerns, all worry and anxiety, and I give up on trying to solve everything with my own strength and limited ability. I give up on trying to fix what only you can help with. I declare that every burden be removed as I cast all my cares upon you and I receive and welcome your peace. I am totally dependent upon you - for all things, in all situations and circumstances. I trust you with my family, my children, my marriage, my health, my wellbeing, my provision, my job or career, my house, my ministry, my relationship with you. Right now I choose to rest and trust in you to help me in all areas of my life because I am totally dependent upon you, Heavenly Father. I receive and welcome your peace as I choose to rest in who you are to me, my loving Heavenly Father. I thank you for this and give you alone all the praise, honour and worship for choosing to be a Father to me. I thank you for this now, in Jesus Name, Amen."
My friend, I believe that as you say that prayer that you would sense and feel a burden being removed from you and that you would just sense God's peace and by that you will know that God is capable and willing to look after you - for all the days of your life!
Amen, be at peace my friend ... you're a child of God!