Text- Matthew 6:9 – “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
To be honest, the list of things that God does for us as a Father is inexhaustible. My goal with the few I have been able to mention is to make you understand how good a father God is, and the benefits of being His son/daughter.
Quite frankly, I admit that contrasting God's affection with that of a natural dad is more agonizing than assuring for some people. To those who were hurt by their earthly father, if God is a ‘father’, then he must be some sort of a controlling, unapproachable, cranky, quick-tempered, kind of figure.
The good news is God not like any of our earthly fathers. Even if you have/had a great dad, God is far better than him. There is no form of imperfection in him. He is a good good father!
In the past few days, we have examined the love, care, provision, protection and guidance of our Father who art in heaven. I will round off this series today with one more thing that God does for us as a Father – discipline.
Those who were disciplined by their earthly father out of his fierce anger, rather than out of love, might have a hard time coming to terms with this.
See what Bible says in Proverbs 3:11-12: “Do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”
Even the New Testament quotes from this scripture to affirm that God disciplines us out of his great love for us. See how the writer of Hebrews put it in Hebrews 12:5-11. The Message translation puts it in a very easy-to-understand way:
“Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either.
It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children.
This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God?
We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live?
While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best.
At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely (produces a harvest of righteousness and peace), for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.
I believe this passage is instructive enough. Rest assured God refuses to give you something or do something for you. He is your Heavenly Father, be sure that at such times, he is either shielding you from something or disciplining you out of love, or both.
PRAYER
My Father who art in heaven, thank you for your commitment to discipline me. Help me Lord, to embrace your discipline as it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace in me, and helps me mature in my relationship with you in Jesus Name.
Image Credit:christianity.com