To many, the reality of God as father brings mixed emotions. Why would that be? When it comes to earthly fathers, some people have a wonderful father, some have an abusive father, some have lost their father, some have never known their father and some know their father but wish they didn’t.
Fathers are models, poor as we are, of God.
In the sixth chapter of Matthew, Jesus teaches that, to believers, God is their heavenly father.
I know that even on my very best day, I am light years away from being like God, but that does not give me an excuse to not try to emulate Him as much as possible.
How can I be like my heavenly father? I can be like Him most when I show grace. What does that look like? One way I can show grace like God is by not repaying evil with evil. 1 Peter 3:8-9 says,
…all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
I sin on a daily basis. What does God give me when I sin? A lightning bolt to the head? No. Does the earth open up and swallow me whole? No. What does God give me? Undeserved favor, aka, grace. In other words, He does not give me what I deserve, which is death and then an eternity in hell. He instead gives me the continual cleansing blood of Jesus.
I don’t have the power to forgive sin, so I can’t give grace in the same manner that God does, but I can choose to bless those who insult me. It’s easier with some people than others. My son called me a monster the other day, and not in a cute way, like the Cookie Monster. It was easy to give him grace. I love him.
What about a stranger? Can I do the same for a stranger? It depends on how much I want to be like my heavenly father. It depends on how well I recognize just how much He has done for me. When we desire to be like Him, He makes the impossible, possible.
In Matthew 19:26, Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Unwittingly, country music singer Paul Overstreet became somewhat of a theologian when he wrote a nice song entitled, “Seeing My Father In Me.” The chorus of the song very well describes our walk with God and the transformation that takes place through our loving obedience:
I’m seein’ my father in me, I guess that’s how it’s meant to be, and I find I’m more and more like him each day. I notice I walk the way he walks. I notice I talk the way he talks. I’m startin’ to see my father in me.
Do you see Him in you? Much love to you all, my wonderful Christian family.
Wes LeFlore (918) 607-8489 or huskerwes1@gmail.com
