I operate from the principle that God is not only our Father but He’s our DAD. There is a distinction here. Just about any man can “father” a child, but not every man is a “Dad”. God is the Father of all mankind, but I believe He’s the DAD of a select few, or “the elect”, for “many are called, but few chosen” (Mt.20:16NKJV). And that’s because not everyone answers the call. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27 NKJV) This points to “relationship”. Much of the world may have religion – “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2Tim.3:5), but not everyone has a “relationship” with God. It’s the difference between the 2 “Rs”. You can either have a “religion” or “relationship”. This epiphany compelled me towards the “born again” experience. I had “religion” for much of my early life. But I realized “religion” was death. I now have, and continue to cultivate, “relationship” with God. And I realize it’s a lifelong process. Just as a marriage is, and should be, a lifelong process. I remember Billy Graham being interviewed before Ruth Graham’s death last year. He was asked about his love for Ruth. He explained he loved her more now than when he first married her. Can you imagine that love? A love that has matured and grown over 60 years of marriage. I don’t know if you take the time to read the quotes I include at the bottom of my letters/musings/devotionals, but much thought is put into them. They are, many times, the springboard for the body of my letter. One in particular that I included in this one was, ““Love seems the swiftest, but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century.” (Mark Twain) Now “25 years” isn’t a hard and fast rule. I realize it can take less or more depending on the maturity of the individuals, and whether they get together based on “dessert”. But it is true that most couples really don’t know each other in the first half of their marriage as much as they do in the latter half. And it’s this “knowing” each other that is key. If you read in Genesis how “…Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived…”(Gen.4:1 KJV), there is a reason why the Hebrew word for “knowing” was used, and not the word for “sex”, “intercourse” or copulation. Imagine Adam encountering the first woman. He knew and understood the other animals. He named them, remember. He was really the first zoologist. But now he encounters someone different and much like him, but not like him. He, of course, is filled with curiosity and excitement, because this creature unlike any other creature can truly communicate with him. We don’t think twice about it, but imagine our being the only human being around and then coming upon someone just like us, but with different plumbing. Keep in mind they were naked. Imagine meeting each other for the first time, and discovering each other and what makes each other tick, so to speak. Isn’t that exciting? So, Adam indeed came to “KNOW” his wife. (Isn’t it a common lament among women that their husbands don’t really know them?) And this “knowing” can take a lifetime. The difference in “knowing” God, however, is that He already knows us, it’s a matter of our coming to “know” Him – “I shall know just as I also am known” (1Cor 13:12NKJV). And so we come to “know” God, not only as our “Father”, but hopefully as our “Dad”. Jesus called Him, “Abba” which in our vernacular is “daddy” or "papa". How many of God’s children (for indeed, HE IS "THE EVERLASTING FATHER" Is.9:6), can call Him, “daddy”? I want to know Him as my “Dad”. And I agree that God doesn’t make the choice for us regarding our spouse, but let me ask you, what kind of parent, not only a Father, but a “DAD”, wouldn’t want the best for his child, especially in regards to marriage? That’s why in other cultures even today, but more commonly in the past, parents made matches for their kids (hence the title for this series). And I believe God, being a concerned parent, as He knows the number of hairs on our head[1], is intimately concerned with us and every decision we make in life. And, as I mentioned in my first letter in the series, of all the decisions we make in life, wouldn’t the choice of a spouse be one of the more important ones? Now I agree He won’t make the choice for us. He’s given us free will after all. And that’s the problematic thing about “free will”; we can choose not to do it God’s way. We can choose not to love Him. We can choose not to have relationship with Him. We can choose death over life – “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV). But wouldn’t you agree that maybe our “DAD” has an opinion about that choice? “This is the way walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21). Consider your own experience as a parent. I’m sure there are times when your children don’t do exactly as you would have them. You have an opinion about something they are about to do, or would like to do, whatever it may be. It could be something so mundane as what they’re going to wear for school that day, or what they’re going to have for breakfast (boy wouldn’t it be nice if those were the biggest issues that parents ever face with their kids?), but they do the opposite of what you wanted for them - they didn’t bring a jacket so now they’re cold, or didn’t bring the umbrella like you suggested so now they got rained on. Notice in each instance, there are consequences for not having followed your advice. Likewise, though we may choose not to follow God’s opinion or advice, we will have to experience the consequences. And as we develop our relationship with God, we come to realize He does have the best in store for us, just as you do for your children. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”[2] And I can trust Him, his decisions, answers, and provision. You are correct that God has revealed His will in the Word. However, Bible study consists of Observation, Interpretation and Application.[3] My job is to get to “KNOW” Him so that I can properly observe, interpret and apply His opinion, His will, to my life; in order that I may have relationship with Him: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”(Mt.7:21) And this aspect of Bible study will take, not only the rest of my life, but truly “knowing” Him will take all eternity. So let me encourage you, exhort you and ensure you that God, as our Father, as our DAD, has “…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer. 29:11), even as I pray:
“Dear Dad, would You bless my sister today? Would You help her to know Your love for her. And would You envelop her even this day, this moment, in Your arms of love. Help her to feel You close, to know Your concern, allowing her to cast her cares at Your feet, because You care for her. Would You provide for all her needs, and would You, Abba Father, Daddy God, give her the desires of her heart as she delights herself in You. Dad, I know you love M, and want only the best for her. Please help her even this day to trust that, You, our Father, our Dad, knows best and to wait on You, understanding that, “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” (Is.64:4) I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 KJV)
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2Timothy 3:1-7 NKJV)
“Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable,” ~ Bruce Lee
[1] Matthew 10:30 (KJV)
[2] Matthew 7:11 (NKJV)
[3] http://www.cmfhq.org/Portals/0/Acrobat/Training/Inductive_Format.pdf
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