Skip to main content

“Where do we get the notion that God is eager to punish us?”

A thought by Leonard Sweet, (2012-03-13) from his book, What Matters Most: How We Got the Point but Missed the Person (Kindle Locations 2119-2120). Random House, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Maybe it is from our own fathers.  I’m so fortunate that I don’t serve a God like that because I had a father who wasn’t like that.  So many times our view of God comes from our view of our own father and for so many that is so tragic.

I tell you the abuse that is handed out to so many children from someone who is their father is atrocious.  That is the most unbelievable, horrible thing that a man could every do, to abuse a child, especially if they are their father.  This world is so messed up in its relationships.  It’s no wonder that people have problems with serving a God that we call father. 

Could you ever please your father?  If you are a father can your kids ever please you?  That is so tragic. 

Well, let me tell you can please God.  Yes there is a prodding sometimes to get back on course as there was with my father but it is always done in love.  You always know that He loves you and that He does what He does out of love.  Let me tell you, you can very much please God.  He gets great pleasure from His kids.

One of the most difficult days of my life was when I got the phone call from California that my dad had been killed in a traffic accident.  It was devastating but that will never happen with my heavenly Father.  I can follow a different path but He will be in the area waiting for me when and if I turn back to Him.   He never leaves me even when I leave Him.

What a Father He is.  I can also say the same about my earthly father because He led me to Him and lived as an example before me.  I want to also be that kind of father even in these later years.  It’s a different role but it is still a vital one in showing what a father is all about. 

No, God is not eager to punish us.  He is eager to meet our needs.  That’s what an authentic father does.  I’m sorry if your father wasn’t like that.  Understand though that God has placed someone around you who will show you what an authentic father is all about.  Just start looking.  Church can be a good place to start, hopefully.

So what kind of father are you?    
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Lie 2: The more you worry about it, the better your odds of avoiding it."

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book,   Winning the War on Worry    (p. 5). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Here is another lie that the Enemy uses with us. And Louie says, "This is a tricky lie. Yes, we often have cause for concern and preparation. But the Enemy wants you to believe that if you worry or fret over a certain outcome long enough, you can keep something bad from happening." But this is so important to realize. He says, "The reality is worrying has never once prevented something negative from happening. Planning might. Prayer has. But worry never will." He continues, "The Enemy tells you that by worrying about a situation (or every situation) you can make your tomorrow better. Really, worry just robs you of today. Jesus implored us: 'I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body mor...
Post a Comment
Read more

“Hurry and love are incompatible.”

A thought by John Mark Comer from his book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (p. 23). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Wow, pretty strong thought isn’t it? John says, “All my worst moments as a father, a husband, and a pastor, even as a human being, are when I’m in a hurry—late for an appointment, behind on my unrealistic to-do list, trying to cram too much into my day. I ooze anger, tension, a critical nagging—the antitheses of love. If you don’t believe me, next time you’re trying to get your type B wife and three young, easily distracted children out of the house and you’re running late (a subject on which I have a wealth of experience), just pay attention to how you relate to them. Does it look and feel like love? Or is it far more in the vein of agitation, anger, a biting comment, a rough glare? Hurry and love are oil and water: they simply do not mix.” He goes on, “Hence, in the apostle P...
Post a Comment
Read more

“The gospel is good news, not good advice.”

A thought by Timothy Keller (2016-10-25) from his book, Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ (p. 21). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I’m glad you stopped to catch a glimpse of what this thought really means. Tim says, “Advice is counsel about what you must do. News is a report about what has already been done. Advice urges you to make something happen. News urges you to recognize something that has already happened and to respond to it. Advice says it is all up to you to act. News says someone else has acted.” He then gives an illustration, “Let’s say there is an invading army coming toward a town. What that town needs is military advisers; it needs advice. Someone should explain that the earthworks and trenches should go over there, the marksmen go up there, and the tanks must go down there.”   That’s advice He goes on, “However, if a great king has intercepted and ...
Post a Comment
Read more