A lot of believers actually have very flawed opinion of God. I don’t know if to blame in on cultural settings or now how doctrines are presented at the church. You see, God isn’t that big guy up in the sky ready to strike you dead once you miss it. God also isn’t your boss who pays you according to the efforts you have put in. For the man in Christ, God is your Father!
John 1:12 explains this: “But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”
Jesus throughout his earthly journey referred to God as Father. This was something that was strange – nobody ever called God Father. When Jesus died and rose again, He rose up as the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29). This meant him opening up the way such that we also could be adopted into this family of God by faith. So we see that from the moment we believed in Jesus, we were giving the Spirit of son-ship
Romans 8:15 further clarifies this: For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
So we are not slaves to God as other religions might present it. We are sons of God. Many believers know this truth but they just haven't learned to relate to God as such. Click To TweetSometimes this is due to bad experiences with our earthly fathers and that affects how we see God. But it should actually be the other way round because in truth God is our real Father. Our earthly father figures are a just shadow of what Fatherhood means. Some get it right, some don’t but know that God’s Fatherhood is eternal.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:11 – 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?
If you don't expect some kind of behaviour from your earthly father, how is it that we imagine God to be such a one? Click To TweetUltimately, the real definition of Fatherhood is found in God and not in humans. We see the nature of God as a Father clearly depicted in the story of the Prodigal Son. This picture of God faults the image that many of us have of God. God isn’t waiting for you to get home so He can unleash punishments upon you neither is He tired of seeing you neither has it refused to ever listen to you. God is waiting, ever waiting for you to come home. God is patient and kind and full of mercy. He is the God of second umpteenth chances. He never gives up on us. He also isn’t ashamed of you and your past (Hebrews 2:11).
So no matter how long you have been away, no matter how far you have strayed, you can come back home. Don’t run anymore for God isn’t mad at you. Come home, God’s love awaits you!
Like the father of the prodigal son proudly announced the return of his lost son, God's love is proud to be seen with you! Click To TweetFor those that are home already, God longs for a father-son relationship with us. For a lot of believers, their relationship with God is mechanical and pretty defined. But God wants to be involved in our day to day activities – from the littlest detail to the grand decisions you make. God truly cares for us and He wants to lead us, He wants to fellowship with us, He wants a meaningful relationship that isn’t limited to bedtime prayers and meal blessings.
We need to start relating to God as our Father. That’s how to get the best of this beautiful fellowship we have with God. What new ways would you start to relate to God from today?