Something just floated into this thick head of mine.. better get it down (& quick, Im at work).
Just think about what it really means to call God `Father`.... we seem to take it so glibly, but the gravity of it just hit me.
We are sinful - OK got that, but wait a minute. Our righteousness is like filthy rags. Before we came to Christ we are full of sin, sickness, filth, LOVING (get that L-O-V-I-N-G) every foul & horrid thing, sculpting a godlessness into pieces of fine art. But then, we look to our Saviour, cling to Him and cry woe is me, I am undone. Now NOW we have a spirit that God Himself says we have full right to call `Father`.
Now imagine this, the most wayward, destructive, violent, foul mouthed, irreverent, disrespectful, manipulating, bullying teenage boy you can think of.... I mean the type that is always in trouble with the police, known by the local courts, therapists don't want to touch him, no school would have him, always in fights, brags about how trouble he has caused, face in the local newspapers... you get the point.
Now with this image in mind, he sees you down the street, you as an upright individual and you don't know this guy, you only know OF him...he calls out `Hello father`, or modern vernacular "Yo pop!"
You would recoil in disgust as he comes over to you. Then he starts to badger you to give him money, help him out the latest charges the police have him on, all the while saying how it is not his fault, and maybe going on to blame you for not being there when HE did get in trouble.
You'd throw your hands up and say "Get lost you degenerate, I don't know you!" Rightly so you are better than this, and how DARE he have the nerve to call you his father.
THAT is like most people (in & out of the church) run around with all their sin, all the love that have of everything offensive to God, BLAMING GOD for not endorsing your love of sin and how He didn't jump to your command to give you this-and-that. No wonder He refers to them as Children of Wrath ()
But, so were some of you, but NOW has He reconciled.
How dare we used to call God our father in such a rebellious state, how dare anyone call God the Father of sin. But then, read again Romans 8, 1John 2,Phil 2:15, 1John3:1, Eph5:1 and others.
Think about this rebellious child in your town, think about him calling you sir as his father. The think of how wonderful it is to call God our Father AFTER Jesus has saved us.
Just think about what it really means to call God `Father`.... we seem to take it so glibly, but the gravity of it just hit me.
We are sinful - OK got that, but wait a minute. Our righteousness is like filthy rags. Before we came to Christ we are full of sin, sickness, filth, LOVING (get that L-O-V-I-N-G) every foul & horrid thing, sculpting a godlessness into pieces of fine art. But then, we look to our Saviour, cling to Him and cry woe is me, I am undone. Now NOW we have a spirit that God Himself says we have full right to call `Father`.
Now imagine this, the most wayward, destructive, violent, foul mouthed, irreverent, disrespectful, manipulating, bullying teenage boy you can think of.... I mean the type that is always in trouble with the police, known by the local courts, therapists don't want to touch him, no school would have him, always in fights, brags about how trouble he has caused, face in the local newspapers... you get the point.
Now with this image in mind, he sees you down the street, you as an upright individual and you don't know this guy, you only know OF him...he calls out `Hello father`, or modern vernacular "Yo pop!"
You would recoil in disgust as he comes over to you. Then he starts to badger you to give him money, help him out the latest charges the police have him on, all the while saying how it is not his fault, and maybe going on to blame you for not being there when HE did get in trouble.
You'd throw your hands up and say "Get lost you degenerate, I don't know you!" Rightly so you are better than this, and how DARE he have the nerve to call you his father.
THAT is like most people (in & out of the church) run around with all their sin, all the love that have of everything offensive to God, BLAMING GOD for not endorsing your love of sin and how He didn't jump to your command to give you this-and-that. No wonder He refers to them as Children of Wrath ()
But, so were some of you, but NOW has He reconciled.
How dare we used to call God our father in such a rebellious state, how dare anyone call God the Father of sin. But then, read again Romans 8, 1John 2,Phil 2:15, 1John3:1, Eph5:1 and others.
Think about this rebellious child in your town, think about him calling you sir as his father. The think of how wonderful it is to call God our Father AFTER Jesus has saved us.
