Tag Archives: father

Fathers Love – Hosea 11:1-4

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The first thing that struck me about this passage was the amount of love the Father has for his people.  I sometimes loose sight of how much our God loves!  Here we see him talking just as you or I would talk about our own children had they flown the nest without as much as a wave, a thank you, or even an “I’ll keep in touch!”

It is amazing to think that God is our father, that He was with us when we took our first steps, even when we lay in bed at night scared of the “bogey man” God was there!  The day we chose to follow Him, He was there!

 He is the perfect father, who will never abandon us, who will always be listening to us, always loving and caring.

For parents, this passage is very touching as it is very easy to apply this situation to your own family, and how you would feel in the same situation.  As parents we love our children unconditionally, they do not earn it!  How intense therefore the pain, if our Children were to rebel, or reject our love and care.

God’s love for us led Him to offer the biggest sacrifice He could ever have given;

“…How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure…”
Stuart Townsend 

Thank you Father God for your sacrifice, for your immense love.  Thank you for your Father heart, that loves us unconditionally, that extends your grace to those who seek you, that loves us as your very own children.

It is such an encouragement to find a passage like this in the old testament that really reminds me and drives home that our God is a loving Father God.  I rarely dip into the old testament as I am always focusing on the Gospel, and yet God was with man for hundreds of years before He sent His Son, and by reading what transpired, really helps us to build up a picture of our loving father, as well as see the events that led to that manger and eventually the cross.

Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-24

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This is one of my favourite stories that Jesus told. In a nutshell a Son who has wronged his father returns after he messes up his life, expecting not to be welcomed and seeking to simply become one of the servants so he can at least live more comfortably than he had been. Yet the father, seeing him from the distance, jumped up and ran to him.

21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

And although his son had stolen from him, rebelled against him and run away, the fathers love and forgiveness knows no bounds.

22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

We were once that son. We had rebelled against God. We were living for ourselves, and yet when we came to the point of realisation that we needed our Father God, and we took that first step, He came running to us with arms stretched wide open! There is a party in heaven for every lost Son/Daughter who comes to the father.

This morning, I am reminded too of the fact that although at a young age I had come to the father, I once again went out on my own, living for myself and freezing God out of my life. They were trying times, and a year ago, I finally came to the prodigal Son realisation again, that I can’t live without God in my life, and thus I began to take baby steps back toward him.

He came running to me, and over a period of a few months I was in a new church, with amazing new Christian friends who have all since helped to build me up, encourage me and help me in my relationship with the Lord.

For those of us who have never accepted Jesus into our lives, or for those reading this who have backsliden, the Lord is sat outside His house like the father in this story, and he is waiting to see you on the horizon so he can come running to you, and throw the biggest party ever at the return of His Son or Daughter. Check out my “Believe” Page.

What amazing grace our Lord has.  He is willing to forgive us ALL our sins, and welcomes us as part of His family.  Not as slaves, or as acquaintances, but as Sons and Daughters!  Heirs to His Kingdom!  It is so incredible to think that our Creator God, Almighty and Powerful God, loves each one of us that much!

If you have lost your way, take that step back to the Lord.  He is waiting to throw a party for you and to bless you.

No More Tears – Revelation 21:1-7

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I got quite excited when I read this.  The devotional today focuses on how it is comforting it can be to have a Christian Brother of Sister with us during times of trouble who will love and support us.  The same applies to a close family member whom would do the same.  This is inspired by the verse:

Revelation 21:4 – He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

When we become Christians we become his children, and he becomes our father.  I often forget that his is our loving father, and can sometimes view the Lord as a distant friend whom I speak to now and again.  Because of that I dont always benefit from the fact he is my loving father who wants to share everything with me, and give me comfort when I need it, and laugh with me when things are good!  As in my previous readings I am challenged to continue to seek to know him better through these daily readings and through prayer and I

pray that you reading this would also feel challenged.

As in past readings and devotionals it really emphasises the need to not try and tackle things by ourselves.  As a human being, I have many many flaws and completely lack the strength and wisdom to be able to deal properly with man awkward situations, to resist temptations, to live for him, however He, like in this passage where he comes down to earth and makes all things new, will come down to us, and be with us.  He makes our hearts a new, and fills us with strength and wisdom to bear anything that is thrown at us.

Its not by any good deed that we have done, but by grace.