1 Peter 1:17
“If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth.”
I want to focus in on the first five words, “If you address as Father”. I was raised by saying the “Our Father”. God has always had the title for many of us. However, I don’t think we have even begun to grasp the meaning and priviledge of the relationship.
With the advent of psychology, we have heard of the importance of fathers. That key relationship is an important molder and shaper of who we are. As young people, we are taught how to be, how to relate to the world, how to treat others, how to work, how to protect and many other things our fathers. Some of us had good fathers, average, poor or no fathers.
The approval of our fathers is important. Did he smile, frown or was he indifferent to us. We seek to gain that acceptance. If it wasn’t given, I believe we still seek it by other means. We might get it from peers, accomplishments or other father-like figures. We want that nod of approval.
God wants to be our Heavenly Father. Yes, He is invisible and beyond our senses. We relate to Him by faith. It’s not all in our heads. The walking christian experiences Him, feels His peace and joy. Time is a huge factor. This isn’t done over night. The beauty of the pearl is developed over time. As we enter a relationship with Him, that influence affects all aspects of our lives. The light of His influence warms all of us. He also is specific with us. Some area will be the focus of maturity in a difficulty. Just as our real fathers may have advised and modeled how to do something, so God helps us. He is all wise uses the circumstances of life with precision.
I think of the lyric in the song, “He makes beautiful things out of us”. Epesians 2:10 says we are His workmanship. We are a work in progress. It’s not viewable at first, but as time goes on, we can see the change. We become more patient, kind, diligent, open, trusting, risking, reassured and so on.
Jesus says in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me”. As we accept Him by opening the door, it begins the lifelong experience of opening doors to other rooms in house of our lives. We begin to have the look of the designer. We get new paint, furniture, etc. We begin to be more Christlike.
This is what happens to those who address Him as Father. What a wonderful priviledge to be adopted by Him. Lord, thank You for this great priviledge. Thanks for Your patience and the mastery of what You do.
This is what happens to those who address Him as Father. What a wonderful priviledge to be adopted by Him. Lord, thank You for this great priviledge. Thanks for Your patience and the mastery of what You do.