How do you think of God the Father?
The answer to this question is both more important and complicated than we might think.
When we read the New Testament we see reference to our Father in many passages. We might have gotten used to the term and perhaps even overlooked its frequency. If you are reading through the New Testament you would see it in many opening lines to the letters. And who can forget the Lord’s Prayer? (Mt. 6.9ff) Here is a short sampling:
- “To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:7)
- “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:3)
- “To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” (1 Timothy 1:2)
- “To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.” (Titus 1:4)
- “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philemon 3)
Then there are the complications. I see two main inhibitors for delight in the Father. There are more of course, but these are the most common that I’ve seen and experienced.
The first is our projection of our earthly father upon our heavenly Father. Every one of us have had an imperfect earthly father. Even if he was great and better than most (like my dad) he is still imperfect. Still others have had far worse experiences with their dad. Wherever they land on the scale, all are imperfect. And here is the danger: we can project our earthly father’s strengths and weaknesses upon our heavenly Father. Was your dad a tough guy? Then you may think God lacks compassion. Was your dad a workaholic with little time at home? Then perhaps you see God as too busy and willing to leave you on your own. Was your dad abusive? Then you may have a hard time trusting your heavenly Father.
The second concern that I have is our perception of our heavenly Father in merely legal terms. Because we love the doctrine of justification those in the Reformed camp are particularly susceptible to this temptation. Justification is the legal declaration of the sinner, by God the Father, as righteous based upon the doing and dying of Jesus and in spite of our persistent and pervasive depravity. How can you ever get over this? We can’t! It consumes so much of what we think about. We are walking around knowing that we sin and are sinners but God declares us righteous because of Christ! C’mon! But we can, if we are not careful, eclipse God’s Fatherly goodness by only focusing on him as judge. God is not less than a judge, but he is much, much more.
Here are some quick reminders of who God our Father is (we could say much more about this, and I’d encourage you to make your own such list).
Our Father is Saving.
When God saved us he got his hands dirty. He reached into the world and brought us out of the tyranny of sin and Satan and into his kingdom. According to Paul this is praiseworthy and should shape our thinking about our Father (Col. 1.12-14).
Our Father is Loving.
We mustn’t forget the famous verse (Jn. 3.16) and remember that it was love that ordered Calvary. But also remember that God continues to love his people in a particular and powerful way. Jesus prays in John 17.23 that we would get this and know that he (the Father) loves us in the same way that he loves the son (Jesus). We cannot forget that our Father is a loving Father.
Our Father is Forgiving.
Remember the Lord’s prayer? We are to pray regularly this prayer and it begins with calling upon the Father and it includes confession and forgiveness of sin (Mt. 6.9-13).
Our Father is Accessible.
We should not think about our access to the Father like calling into a help line. We don’t call in with our emergency and get put on hold and told to wait for 2 hours while God handles this crisis in China. No. He is accessible and inviting of his people. We should be at home with our Father with the kind of freedom and magnetic draw that comes from a child to their parent (Eph. 2.18-22; Heb. 4.16).
Our Father is Understanding.
God knows that we are imperfect—even as justified sinners. He knows and understands that even our best days as Christians are imperfect days. Can you believe that? Have you considered this? He does not love you because you are perfect but even in spite of your imperfections. Our daughter loves to draw a picture of herself and her mom and dad. She always makes me with the longest legs and interesting face. She draws my wife to look like a princess with a huge dress and large hands. Can you imagine me tearing it up and saying, “That looks nothing like me! Look at my face, hair, and feet. C’mon!” No. That would be horrible and heartless by any standard. God sees our imperfect projections of our reflection of him and he understands. Listen to the Psalmist:
“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103.13–14)
He knows that you are dust. He sees your imperfect fear and understands even as you fear him. He is not waiting to zap you with judgment he is showing you with loving grace—even in your imperfection.
As you continue to have your mind informed and reformed by the Scripture, remember to allow the biblical testimony to be projected on your understanding of your heavenly Father. And by all means delight in the truth of justification by faith alone, but let that delighting lead you to sing in the other rooms of mansion of his perfections!
[photo via Shutterstock]
