“And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.””
This verse is an echo from the Old Testament when God spoke to David through Nathan in 2 Samuel 7:14, telling him it would be Solomon who would build the temple for God. Paul is writing this to the new church in Corinth, to reaffirm to them God’s love and desire for them to set themselves apart from unbelievers. God is also expressing His desire for the closest and most intimate relationship with us as His children. It’s not just a set of rules and rituals that need to be obeyed and observed. The Israelites had tried that in the Old Testament and had proved beyond doubt that this did not create the people God created us to be.
In our human existence we have a human or biological father. In today’s world fathers are sometimes absent and unknown or bring painful memories to the fore. God wants to be a loving, present Father who provides for His children’s needs.
If we go back to the very beginning of creation, we know that God wanted humankind to have a most excellent existence with Him and for Him. We know that we messed that up when we submitted to the temptation presented by Satan to eat the forbidden fruit. But through the life and sacrifice of Jesus, we regain the ability to be in His presence for all eternity without sin and in perfection with our maker. Oh, what joy! I am awe struck each time I read this. The God of all things, seen and unseen, wants me as His daughter/son for all eternity, even though I fall short every day to be holy as He is Holy!
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Application:
Pause for a few moments to soak in His presence and grasp the enormity of His love for you. He wants YOU! He doesn’t want a different or improved version of you He just wants you. If you submit to Him you will grow in Him and you will eventually die to self and be the creation He always knew you would be.
Prayer:
Dear God. I love that you are my creator father, Abba father and loving father. I want to please you in all that I think, say and do. Help me to seek your will for my life, to spread your light and love everywhere I go. Amen.