If You Address As Father

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If You Address as Father

“Hey, Dad?     Could I have a __________?”      So, we look to our father to help us with our needs.     Throughout our growing up years,  those needs depended  on our age and circumstances.     But,  we always knew  we could ask,  even if the answer might be  “No,”  or  “You’ll have to wait  until you are  more grown up.”

We also know  that we can ask our heavenly Father  to meet our needs,  because we know  how deeply He loves us — and we trust  our heavenly Father’s advice  and good judgment  on our behalf.

The Apostle Peter wrote  some very good advice  to all  of God’s children,  when we go  to our heavenly Father  with our requests.     In 1 Peter 1:17-19,  he wrote,

And if you address  as Father  the One who impartially judges  according to each man’s work,  conduct yourselves  in fear  during the time  of your stay  upon earth;  knowing that you were not redeemed  with perishable things  like silver or gold  from your futile way  of life  inherited from your forefathers,  but with precious blood,  as of a lamb unblemished  and spotless,  the blood  of Christ.

Peter is saying  that all  of God’s children need  to have a healthy respect  for our heavenly Father.     God’s love  should never be trampled on  or disrespected  in any way.     That is what Peter means  when he says,  “Conduct yourselves  in fear  during the time  of your stay  upon earth.”

Our life here on earth  is relatively short — especially when compared  to eternity.     We cannot afford  to be so disrespectful  towards our heavenly Father  that we bring His judgment  down upon ourselves.

When our conscience nudges us  and lets us know  that we are not showing  the kind of respect  we ought to have,  Peter wants us  to think  about some of the “why” — “why” does God deserve  our utmost respect?

The biggest reason is  that we have been redeemed.     We have been bought.     When God bought us,  the price  for our salvation  was the precious blood  of Jesus Christ.

We deserve  only eternal damnation  for our sins — but Jesus bought us  by giving up  His perfect life  on the cross.     His perfection  and love  were the only thing  that could possibly save us — and He was willing  to pay the price.

So then,  it behooves us  to show respect  for the fact  that Jesus died  for us.

We show that respect  by conducting ourselves  in “fear” (a deep respect)  during the time  of our stay  upon earth.

When we were redeemed (bought),  Peter explains  that we were redeemed  “from your futile way  of life inherited  from your forefathers.”

In other words,  we were bought  so that we would see  and understand  that the world’s way  of living  is futile — it’s worthless — useless — vain — untrustworthy — a complete failure  in any eternal goals  we might hope for.     We were bought  so that we would stop wanting  to sin more and more.     We were redeemed “from” our futile way  of life.

Seeing and understanding  God’s love  and sacrifice  creates within us  a love and appreciation  that no longer wants  to fall in line  with the futility  of this world.

If we want  to live  in the futile way  of the world,  we have to realize  that we’re trading off  our chance  for eternal life  in heaven  for something totally worthless.     Why should anyone  prefer fleeting,  sinful pleasures on earth  over an eternity  in absolute glory?

We were all born  in sin.     So,  this futile way  of life  we so dearly want right now  was inherited.     We’ve just got to see  how worthless it is.    Our so-called “pleasures”  on earth  are not worth  giving up heaven for.

That is why Peter urges us  to see  and understand  how we must conduct ourselves  for the sake  of God’s sacrificial love  for us.     If we despise  that love,  we are giving up  eternal life.

What more  can God say?     He put His love  on the line.     What are we willing  to put up?     Do we trust  His word?

When we see the connection  and the love waiting  for us,  we will say,  “Hallelujah!     God still loves us dearly.     He still wants  to be our salvation.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional  to glorify  the LORD of lords  and GOD of gods.

Pray for our country.

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The LORD  made this day, let us rejoice  and be glad  in Him.

Psalm 118:24

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The word of the LORD is tried;

He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.

Psalm 18:30

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Sing for joy  in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming  to the upright.

Psalm 33:1

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How blessed are those  who dwell  in Thy house!

They are ever praising Thee.

Psalm 84:4

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Just as a father  has compassion  on his children,

So the LORD  has compassion  on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:13

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O give thanks  to the LORD,  for He is good;

For His lovingkindness  is everlasting.

Psalm 107:1

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Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart  of those who seek the LORD  be glad.

Psalm 105:3

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Not that I have already obtained it,  or have already  become perfect,   but I press on  in order that  I may  lay hold  of that  for which also  I was laid hold of  by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12

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