Your 'Divine' Dad

We can be grateful if we’ve been fortunate enough to have had Dads that left a positive and memorable impact in our lives. But, unfortunately, that isn’t true for all of us. Some Dads were physically or emotionally absent or maybe married to their jobs. They didn’t affirm us as they should have or perhaps never said, “I love you.” We’ve heard this before.

Today, in 41% of U.S. homes the fathers are not living with the family. Additionally, 66% of all kids in America will live with only one biological parent by age 16, leaving single moms desperately trying to get their kid’s Dad involved in their lives.

You’ve probably heard that there is a connection between our earthly fathers and our perception of God. I could belabor this point, but won’t take up the space for it now.  

Although our concept of God may have been distorted by our relationship with our father it doesn’t need to define our view of God. We have a choice between believing what God has said about Himself, or allowing our own experience to determine that for us. Regardless of where and how our view of God was developed God is able to reveal Himself to you and I accurately.

Jesus referred to his father over 100 times in the Gospel of John alone. Jesus loved to talk about his father, his favorite subject (see John 5:19-20:10:15, 28-29;14:8-9;17:23,25). But the religious continued to be confused about God, the father (John 8:27-29, 38). God is not merely like a father, He is a Father. 

The greatest need for everyone, regardless of their parentage, is to know the Father. The Prophet Jeremiah said, ”But let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me,” Jer.9:24 ‘Understanding’ is to have correct insight to the nature of a thing.

The word ‘know’ here in Hebrew is the word ‘yada’, which is “to know intimately.” When we understand God’s heart and posture towards us, it helps us understand not only who He is, but ourselves as well. It helps us to accurately interpret our world and experience true lasting significance and security, preventing a whole lot of wasted religiosity.  So let’s look at a few truths about life’s greatest pursuit of knowing God.

Your Divine  Dad… Is personal and accessible. He is not a force, a concept, just a doctrine or a distant monarch. He is not unmoved by our suffering and pain (Heb.4:15). He is accessible (Heb.4:16; I John 5:14).

He listens to you. (Ps.91:14-15; Mark 5:33) One day while working in my home office my daughter wanted to talk to me and I told her I was busy studying, but I was really listening. She put her two little hands around my face and said, “No Daddy, listen to me with your face.” Thankfully, God the Father is always listening to you with His full attention.

He understands and sees your pain.
“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8

He pursues You! Helen of Troy must have been something. Thousands were killed in the battles between Greece and Troy over who would get Helen. Would it be her husband Menalaus or Paris, Prince of Troy? Few have ever been so pursued.

Many have never been pursued or even noticed all their lives. Who has passionately pursued you in the right way?

In one of my favorite adventure movies, The Last of the Mohicans, Nathaniel, raised by the Mohican Indians is in love with Cora, the daughter of a proud British Colonel. In one of the final scenes Cora, Nathaniel and others, are trapped behind a waterfall with a rival Indian tribe closing in.
 But just before Nathaniel jumps into the massive waterfall to escape. He passionately tells Cora, “just stay alive no matter what, do whatever you have to, no matter where, no matter how long, no matter how far I will find you.” In the climax he relentlessly pursued her and rescued her.

God is saying that same thing to you and I! He will passionately pursue you no matter what! If you don’t want to be pursued He is still committed to the pursuit of you! He is the divine romancer. He will not abandon you.

If you’re a Christ follower your Divine Dad Says That you Will Live with Him Forever! (Jo.17:24;14:2-3)

One day Christ followers will finally see Him at last! In the last analysis, although very important, it’s not how much you know about your ‘Divine Dad’, but it’s knowing and experiencing that He know and LOVES  YOU!

You see, you are graven into the palms of His hands. His eye is always upon you. You are the apple of His eye. You are never out of His heart.  You are constantly on His mind. There is never a moment when you are out of His care.

Greeting card companies hire professional writers and poets to come up with clever and impacting words to say, “I love you.” Your Divine Father didn’t send a greeting card, He sent His only Son. He didn’t just tell you He loves you He gave everything for YOU! 

Happy Father's Day and  don't forget your father!

Mark

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