Knowing God as a Father: Gospel Today Devotional - 29th December, 2022

KNOWING GOD SERIES

Our knowledge of God will not be complete if we do not know God as Father. We must understand the Fatherhood of God if we must relate with him as such. It is not just enough to know that God is love or that God is good, or that he is faithful. It is not even enough to know that God is light, and that he is not a man. Above all things, you must know this, that God is Father. He is your Father as well as mine. If truly we have been begotten of him, and that we are now sons of his, that means that he is Father to us, isn't it? Do you know God as Father? Do you relate with God as Father? Do you see God as Father?

We would not understand this if we do not know the kind of relationship that exist between an earthly father and his son. A father who loves his son so dearly would watch no harm come to his son. He would see to it that his son lacks nothing. Do you go before your father in fear if you want something from him? You approach him boldly but respectfully, right? Do you find it difficult to speak with your father? When you go to him to ask for a thing, do you go thinking he would say no?

This is how we should relate with God. We should see him as Father and that is because that is who he is to us. We have been begotten of him, and have become sons. Every privileges given to sons is ours, why? Because God is Father. I trust the Lord to help us understand this today. The passages of scripture under consideration are seen below,

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:11)."Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name" (Matthew 6:8, 9).  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. [45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. [48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:16, 45, 48).

We can see how that scripture  proves to us from the passages above that God is Father, and not just Father but your Father as well as my Father. Is there still a reason to doubt this? The reason many of us see God as being wicked is because we do not know him as Father. Can your father under normal circumstance do that which is against your good? Was is it not God who said his thoughts towards you are of good and not of evil to give you an expected end? (Jeremiah 29:11). Do you know why that was said? Because he is your Father, and as your Father, he only has good plans for you.

It is the fatherhood nature of God that makes him see you in your mess, brings you out and cleans you up. The reason he extends his hand to you and forgive you when you do wrong is because he is your Father. The reason he provides for you that which you ask and even that which you don't is because he is your Father. God's fatherly nature is the reason he forgives, it is the reason he corrects. It is the reason he scolds, it is the reason he keeps you, it is the reason he provides, it is the reason he loves with no sentiment. Aside the fact that all these attributes define God, they still come to play because God is Father. The Fatherly nature of God shows you the side of his goodness, of his love, of his faithfulness, etc.

Even earthly fathers do that which father's by God's standard shouldn't do but because God is not a man, he fathers not like man. God is your Father. The passages above are proofs. Pray to him as Father. Talk to him as Father. Confess your faults to him as Son to Father. Do not live with this idea that God is wicked. If you knew he was fatherly, you wouldn't have said or thought that way. Now you know that God is your Father, and you are his son. Begin to see God today as Father. The Lord help us all in Jesus' name.

Thought for the day: The reason many have said and thought God is wicked is because they have not come to see and know God as Father. God is your Father, and you are his son.

Gospel Today is a comforting, exhorting, edifying and inspiring devotional published by the Delightsome Land Christian Ministry. For questions, enquiries/testimonies, please call/WhatsApp: 08174915361, 08053662272 or Email: [email protected].