By inspiration, David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, wrote, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust” (Psalm 103:13-14). The forgiveness and salvation God provides is like the compassion a father has on his children. A father who is committed to the care of his children will avoid provoking them to wrath, but instead will concentrate his efforts on training and instructing them (Ephesians 6:4). A caring father understands the disposition of his child and knows the way to discipline him so as to encourage him to do right. God knows our frame. He understands our frailties. He knows we are but dust (Gen. 2:7).
As our Father, God wants to see us succeed. He wants us to go to heaven more than we desire to go to heaven. He disciplines His children for their good (Heb. 12:5-7). Such disciple is not pleasant when it is administered, but it is intended to bring about righteousness (Heb. 12:11). He loves us so much that He gave us His own beloved Son (John 3:16; Rom. 8:32). God is not eagerly looking for a loophole or technicality with which He can condemn us. He does demand obedience, but we should not have irrational fears of our Father; His love for us is portrayed in the father’s response to the prodigal son: “But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). When the son knew he was no longer worthy to be called a son, and thus petitioned to be allowed to be a servant (Luke 15:21), the Father responded with these words, “Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (Luke 15:22-24).
Think about how good God has been to you. When you count your blessings, it should move you to repent—give up any sin in your life and come to Him. The goodness of God leads you to repentance (Rom. 2:4). Christians, it would be good for us to take a step back and marvel at how blessed we are to be children of God. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). The Bible teaches that while we are to have a healthy, fearful respect for God, we are also to be deeply moved by our Father’s love (1 John 4:7-14). Take some time to dwell on the wonderful gifts that come from the Father of lights (James 1:17).
-Mark Day
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