I love to write about theology, a christian perspective on tricky topics and other stuff that can be a bit intense. I must say I enjoy that, I enjoy it because it's part of how God made me and what I feel he has commissioned me to do. However, it’s not ALL I do 😆, I loooove fast cars, drinking great coffee, mountain climbing, socials around the firepit and being a dad. I write these ‘dad posts’ as they are good for my soul and hopefully yours too! They might be a bit fluffy, but I want to share the little things God is teaching me that are no less important than the more weighty. I hope this encourages you :-)
I am not a man of many rituals, but there are some I have tried to start especially since becoming a dad. At night we pray, we always sing and usually read a story or the Bible. One of my favourite things is to check on her just before I go to bed, I tip-toe in her room, tuck her in, move her hair out of her face and whisper ‘daddy loves you’.
A few days ago as I tucked her in I was reminded that the Bible says that God ‘hems me in’ and ‘lays His hand upon me’ (ps139:5). I said as always, 'Daddy loves you' and as the words left my lips I felt His Spirit move me and whisper in my heart, 'Daddy loves you too'.
His love for me hit me afresh. He is our dad, and He loves us!!
A chap I had the pleasure of baptising described encountering God‘s love being; 'like liquid love flowing through my veins'. Ahh yes, Amen, I feel it!
Being a dad has conjured up wonderful and slightly scary feelings and has definitely taught me something about my Heavenly Father. When I see my beautiful little girl lying there as a wee bundle of cuteness, I am overwhelmed with a fierce love and a desire to ensure she is safe and cared for. This is what God does with us, when it says in the Bible that He ‘hems us in’ it is talking about protection that He is covering us on every side to protect us. The same passage says, He ‘places His hand on us’, this is the comfort of knowing His presence. When India has struggled to sleep, been a bit poorly or whatever, I have numerous times slept on the floor next to her cot with my hand inside her cot on her… She could sleep when she was comforted by my presence. This is what God does with us, He places His hand on us so we know He is there. He is not a God who is far off floating around in the universe somewhere, our God is a Father who is close!
As I pondered these things one thing that strikes me afresh is the excruciating cost of God giving His ‘one and only begotten’ child over to be abused and murdered on a cross** to pay the costs for my sin... for your sin.
What a love!!
I can not even imagine the pain of the Father, is it wrong to say that in some way the Father endured more than the son?! I don’t want to stray in to theologically murky water, the Son was on the cross…but imagine the anguish the Father must have felt..! I know why Jesus had to hold His dad back** ‘father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing!’. This is a much misunderstood action of Jesus life which I will write about soon!
As His words, 'Daddy loves you too' reverberated in my heart I considered again the story of the prodigal son, which is loaded with so much meaning. (Luke 15:11-32) Jesus tells this story to show us Father God's character. The son who had run off to squander his fathers inheritance is on his way home totally broke. When his dad sees him he is still some way off, but he doesn't just wait thinking of how he is going to make him squirm… not at all. The father hoists up his tunic and runs as fast as his legs will carry him. (In the best or circumstance this would have been culturally frowned upon, seen as an undignified thing for a man even less so a rich man to be doing. The fact that the community would have known how this son had behaved and shamed his family meant it was even more strange that the father went running. But run he did! It’s powerful and beautiful.) When the father reaches the son there is no stuffy formalities, he doesn't berate him first... he holds, hugs and kisses him.
What a great picture!
Jesus said about us '...though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts...' (Matt 7:11) I know all too well that I am fallen and I mess up, regularly. Yet I still love and dote on my daughter. How much more then does GOD love us who is all good, who IS LOVE..!!
have certainly have a fresh appreciation for God's love. That we are fiercely loved by our Heavenly Father. That He watches over us and not just at bedtime... not even with the limitations of human dad. He is everywhere and sees everything, He watches our ‘every going in and going out both now and forevermore’ - Ps121.
As I ponder His love I remember that He has adopted us fully as one of His own children. I remember that He asked us to call Him dad. I am reminded that as we sleep He kisses our forehead and whispers 'Daddy loves you'.
Tonight as you go to sleep hear the whisper from your heavenly father; 'Daddy Loves You!'.
Big love
Joss
**I will try and write about the crucifixion one day, I can talk about it easier but I will try and write it. 99% of Christians have a lot of what was happening on the cross totally wrong I believe. There is a different perspective on the crucifixion itself that I think is powerful and will give you goosebumps.
1 John 3:1 says,
“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!”
Psalm 139:5
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Matthew 7:11
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
1 John 4:8
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Comentários