SOUNDING OUT:
God, Our Loving Father

  It happened again for the umpteenth time. I could have anticipated it, and I’m thankful it still made an impression on my mind and heart. God said it again. I heard worship manifestations and in each message He declared that he was my Father — “my loving heavenly Father,” “my great God and Father,” “my dear Father,” and “my loving Dad.”

  How great that we have this truth constantly before us. How important is this remembrance. In each of the church and pastoral epistles, God in the opening salutation records this truth — God is our Father. Our identity as sons of God must be established. Our appreciation and esteem of this permanent, immutable relationship can make all the difference in the quality of our lives.

  When Jesus began his ministry he was baptized by John in the Jordan. At that time God declared, “Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22) But have you noticed what happened immediately after God spoke those loving words to him? He was alone in the wilderness tempted of the devil, and the first words the devil said to him were, “If thou be the son of God…” (Luke 4:3) In temptation in Luke 4:9 the devil repeats those words, “If thou be the son of God…”

  The devil was apparently trying to cause Jesus to doubt what His Father had just so lovingly and boldly declared. It wouldn’t surprise me if he used the same tactics on us. Is God your Father, and does He love you? We should permanently etch those truths on the tablets of our minds and hearts. When we establish our identity we will be secure in our relationship.

  Just as the truth of those words provided the springboard for Jesus’ service, our awareness and appreciation of it provides the foundation upon which we may begin. It doesn’t matter what comes our way, we are more than conquerors through him who loves us.

  Among the first recorded words Jesus spoke after he commenced his public ministry were:

  God was his Father and He had equipped Jesus do to all He had asked of him. Jesus boldly declared that his Father was always with him and that His love was real. How I cherish those thoughts! How they comfort by soul! How they deliver me from complacency! God is our Father. He loves us. Is there anything too hard for Him? Then there isn’t anything to hard for us.