God the Father

GOD POWERFULLY SHAPES OUR IDENTITY WHEN WE RELATE TO HIM AS OUR FATHER. The Scriptures tell us in Gal. 3:26 “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” This means that through Christ people are not only saved from condemnation, but they are also adopted into a new spiritual family that God is creating in human history. As family, God relates to us in a new and personal way. And when he saves people he equips them with his Holy Spirit, a living heart, and a new family. All of these elements produce in us a new identity that can powerfully work in our lives as we grow in relationship with our Heavenly father.

This new identity is powerful because it changes way we see God, ourselves, and our environment. Recently we had a new addition to our family. One night as I was up late working on a paper for school a kitten had found its way to our open front door. At first I wasn’t sure what to do with it. I’ve never owned a cat before and don’t know the first thing about them. I woke up my wife Michelle and we decided to keep it for the night because it was cold outside and we felt a level of compassion for it. In the morning we still were unsure about what to do with it and decided it would be unsafe to just release it into the neighborhood to wonder the streets. So we decided to keep it until we found someone to take it. Michelle bought food, toys, and all of the necessary supplies for a cat. And as the days passed we realized that having a new kitten around the house isn’t all that unpleasant. To my surprise I find myself thinking about names, about how to train it, and about how to take better care of it. Through a process of relationship my heart has become warm to it. And as I’ve reflected on this idea of adoption, I’ve become so grateful that God didn’t save me the way we saved this cat. Rather than people randomly showing up at God’s door step, Jesus comes to the door of our heart. And rather than tolerating us at first, testing us to see if this whole salvation thing will work out, his heart was warm and welcoming, and full of grace for us even before we were born. God is a perfect father. He’s knowledgeable and experienced with taking care of people. Just like our new pet, we are given a new name, a new home, a new family, and nourishment to explore God’s creation. And in the end we can sleep soundly in the presence of our father. As Christian’s we don’t just move from death to life, but from orphans, lost and helpless, to children loved and cared for by God.

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