Father Part 4

June 27, 2019 by Cee Maria in Word for Wednesday

John 17:21 NLT

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

Father in this verse refers to 'God the creator of the universe and mankind', 'God, the Father of Jesus the Messiah', and 'God our Heavenly Father when we accepted Jesus as His Son, Who died for our sins and rose from the dead' (1).

A recorded prayer of unity

This is a recorded incident of Jesus praying to His Father. He is not only praying for the disciples, but for all believers then and in the future. He is asking God His Father to make all the children of God to be one. 'One' here means united in spirit and purpose, just like He and the Father are united in spirit and purpose. Why? So unbelievers will comprehend that God the Father sent Jesus His Son to them for their benefit and their salvation.

Jesus, our role model

This was the entire reason Jesus came to earth as a human being and lived among us. It was the only way for God the Father to demonstrate His goodwill towards mankind. How did Jesus show His Father’s love? He taught the scriptures accurately, allowing God’s power to validate His teachings with signs and wonders. He healed the brokenhearted and the physically sick, cast out demons, and raised the dead. Jesus rectified everything that was wrong in a person’s life. Most important of all, Jesus continually submitted His will to God’s will to the point of reconciling us back to God by dying on a cross and rising from the dead. He was the living personification of how to have an affectionate, trusting, and personal relationship with our Heavenly Father.

How can we reconcile others to God?

Jesus is earnestly praying the only solution that will reconcile mankind back to God. When we as believers line up our purposes with God’s purposes, in the spirit of love as God loves, then the world will believe that God is our Heavenly Father and that Jesus is His beloved Son.

That’s what father means in this verse.

References:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G3962&t=NLT

Father Part 3

June 19, 2019 by Cee Maria in Word for Wednesday

Jeremiah 3:19 NLT

I thought to myself, ‘I would love to treat you as my own children!’. I wanted nothing more than to give you this beautiful land—the finest possession in the world. I looked forward to your calling me ‘Father,’ and I wanted you never to turn from me.

Speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, God is heartbroken because the tribes of Judah and Israel have broken covenant with Him by worshiping other heinous idols. Sadly, God is prevented from blessing His people with land and possessions. Most of all, God is mourning the loss of a loving and personal relationship with His children. God’s greatest desire is for His children to recognize and acknowledge Him as their ‘Heavenly Father’ and to return the love He so generously lavished on them.

Father means head and founder of the household, of benevolence and protection, a term of respect and honor in this verse (1).

References:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1&t=KJV

Father Part 2

June 12, 2019 by Cee Maria in Word for Wednesday

Genesis 17:4 NLT

“This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations!'

Biological children

God is speaking to ninety-nine year old Abraham in this verse. Ishmael, Abraham’s son with Hagar, was already born. But, God was not referring to this son. Abraham will father a biological son with his eighty-nine year old wife, Sarah. This miracle son would be the fulfillment of his covenant with God.

Spiritual children

Nations means ‘peoples of all nationalities’ (1). Because of this extraordinary covenant, God will honor Abraham with not only biological descendants, but spiritual descendants as well. Abraham’s seed of faith will spawn spiritual children from people of all nationalities who will worship the God of the Hebrews.

Paraphrase:

I am God and I am making a unique covenant with you, Abraham. Seal this covenant by believing My promise with all your heart. If you do, I will perform a miracle. Both you and Sarah will have biological descendants. Then, I will perform another miracle. Your seed of faith will spread to other peoples of all nationalities. They will believe My words with all their hearts and worship Me just like you do and because of you. They will be your spiritual descendants. You will be a father to all of these people and highly revered.

That’s what father means in this verse.

References:

1) https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1471&t=NLT

Father Part 1

June 07, 2019 by Cee Maria in Word for Wednesday

Genesis 5:3

When Adam was 130 years old, he became the father of a son who was just like him—in his very image. He named his son Seth.

Adam, the first man made from the clay of the earth, became the biological father of Seth. Seth means ‘compensation' a repayment for the two other sons that he lost (1). We all know the tragic story of Cain and Abel. This time, Adam was going to do it right and be the father he was created to be. Adam made sure that Seth never left his side. They were always interacting. They played together, worked together, prayed together and worshiped together. Seth picked up all the mannerisms, attitudes, behavior patterns, and mental processes of his father. Whatever was important to Adam was important to Seth, especially in the area of loving God. He was just like him, the spittin’ image!

That’s how God wants us to be. He wants us to always interact with Him and pick up His attributes. He wants us to be the spittin’ image just like Jesus was the very image of His Father when He walked this earth.

A side note, Adam was 130 years old when he fathered Seth. One hundred is the completion of a cycle and 30 means extreme unity. Adam began a new cycle in life when Seth was born. Most importantly, he united himself with God and with Eve so that Seth would fully mature and walk out this destiny. It was because of Seth’s son that the people started to call out to God by Name. Seth’s descendants knew and worshiped God on a very personal level. Adam raised his son successfully.

That’s what father means in this verse.

References:

1) https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H8352&t=KJV