I began 2018 supplementing my Bible reading with a new (to me) devotional book published in the 1800’s by Hannah Whithall Smith. I love to read books from this era as they tend to be free of much 21st century biblical error. Smith’s devotional for Jan. 1 carries the title of my devotional message. Her writings have a unique way of joyfully stirring my soul into deeper biblical thought. As I read her brief thoughts, I began to think of the Fatherhood of God. I ran biblical references and want to share some verses with you that affirm God as our Father in heaven.
As the “Father of lights” (Jms. 1:17), God provides “every good and every perfect gift” that blesses our daily lives. Every soul (Christian or not) is the recipient of “every good” blessing of this life (Matt. 5:45). Christians also enjoy being recipients of “every perfect (spiritual) gift” that the Father provides only “in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:3). God’s redeemed children are doubly blessed by the Father’s goodness and love.
When spiritual eyes are open to the Father’s love, a natural response is sincere prayer arising from grateful hearts: “Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted . . . and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all” (2 Chron. 29:10-12). From David’s prayer, we note the NKJV translation “LORD” (all solid caps) in addressing God’s formal name (YAHWEH) which includes the entire Godhead of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Remember this as you read some translations of the Old Testament for a richer insight into our great God!
In the Christian age, prayers to the Father should include our Lord Jesus, for the inspired prophet said He Himself is “Everlasting Father” (Isa. 9:6). Jesus taught His disciples to direct their prayers to “Our Father in heaven” (Matt. 6:9). What His disciples did not understand at the time is that Jesus was “Everlasting Father” on earth. Jesus devoted His ministry to proving the vital truth: “that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father” (Jn. 5:23); “I and My Father are one” (Jn. 10:30); “he who has seen Me has seen the Father” (Jn. 14:9).
If we limit our understanding of God to the “human concept” of father and son” (two totally different people) we will labor under the false impression that our God is two separate gods.
Such a concept contradicts the inspired Scripture that “The LORD our God, the LORD is one!” (Deut. 6:4). Warren Wiersbee says: “The Hebrew word translated ‘one’ (ehad) can also mean ‘a unity’ as well as ‘numerical oneness.’ It’s used that way in Genesis 2:24, describing the oneness of Adam and Eve. Jehovah is unique, for there is only one true God; He is God alone . . . and He is a unity, which Christians interpret as leaving room for the Trinity”. (Bible Exposition Commentary on The Pentateuch).
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When God sent Jesus to earth, He sent part of Himself as His “only begotten Son”. As God’s word from “the bosom of the Father” (Jn. 1:18), Jesus was dispatched from heaven into Mary’s womb that He as the Son of Man might accomplish what the Father in heaven could not do: be tempted “in all points . . . as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). As a sinless Sacrifice, Jesus “by Himself purged our sins and sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3). Today, Jesus occupies God’s throne of glory on the right hand of His Father in heaven.
As in past history, the Father continues to receive the glory of the hosts of heaven for: “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power. For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” (Rev. 4:14).
Today, the Son also shares the Father’s glory from the heavenly hosts: “Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory and blessing” (Rev. 5:12). It’s interesting that John uses four words in describing the heavenly praise of God the Father as contrasted to seven words of praise to God the Son. In a way, this should not come as a surprise, for without Jesus’ redeeming work in the flesh, we would have no relationship with our holy God and would be eternally doomed! God not only created us in His own image, He redeemed us from our sin through His work on Calvary. Praise God the Father for His creation and praise God the Son for His work of redeeming us from Satan’s kingdom of darkness! When we praise the Father, we also praise the Son for they are not two separate “gods” but one and the same God of eternity. As noted from John 5:23, to honor the Son is to honor the Father! Let us not fail to give the Father His full and complete glory and honor by including Jesus in our prayers of praise and thanksgiving to our God in heaven!
When properly understood, our GOD IS ENOUGH. He is all we have ever needed and all we ever will need! As our God, Jesus is our life (Phil.1:21), our joy (Jn. 17:13) and our peace (Jn. 14:27). Bill Tyner summed it all up in the song He Is My Everything: “He is my ev-’ry-thing, He is my all. He is my ev-’ry-thing both great and small. He gave His life for me, made ev-’ry-thing new; He is my ev-’ry-thing. Now how about you?
By Ralph Weinhold; Danville
