Padre

For years I've heard people talk about God as Father. It never quite made sense. For years I've heard people say that they've heard people talk about God as Father and it didn't make sense to them. THOSE people didn't make sense to me. I was somewhere in between; I believed he was Father, but I didn't really get it and even superficially doubted it at times.

Finally, it hit me a while back. On a Father's Day sermon years ago, Chris Whitler said that a father's job was similar to a miner - to bring out of a child what he or she is good at. His father found he was good at drums, so he supported Chris and taught him the drums. Chris now is seeing that his oldest son has taken an interest in film-making, and so has encouraged him to go with it and make short films at home.

God, our Father, knows what we're good at because HE made us to be good at those things! We complain about what we're bad at (I'm an awful singer!) and suppress what we're good at (I'm good at writing). But the adventure of the journey of walking with God is littered with refinings and affirmations. He does not leave us out here to dry, but constantly affirms us through others, through the Word, and through his Holy Spirit speaking to us. Not only this, but he also has given us deep desires and abilities to do exactly what he's called us to do.

Alongside this, God protects us, provides for us, and fulfills his promises. That's something that is so essential - fulfilling promises. God promised a Messiah and he fulfilled that promise through Jesus. He's promised a wedding feast where we are invited - as the Bride of Christ!  A wedding feast that is an everlasting celebration of God and Man being fully reconciled. And from now until that time, he affirms us and never abandons us.

Yes, God is our Dad.