Honoring Our Heavenly Father Today

I am ascending to My Father and your Father -

to My God and your God.

John 20:17

Jesus spoke these words to Mary Magdeline the morning of His resurrection.  During His time on earth, Christ fulfilled so many roles - Savior, Redeemer, Deliverer, Shepherd, Prophet, Giver of Life.  But the bottom line of His purpose on this earth was to restore our relationship with the Father.  I wonder, however, if we sometimes become unbalanced in our faith, unconciously focusing more on One of the Persons of the Trinity - the Holy Spirit or the Son, to the negligence of honoring Our Father. 

So today, on Father's Day, I believe that not only should we honor our earthly Fathers, but to renew ourselves in honoring our Heavenly Father as well.  In order to gain an understanding of what it means to have the Lord God as our Father, let us examine a few passages.

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  He is the Creator, the Giver of Life!  "He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn't live in man-made temples, and human hands can't serve his needs - for he has no needs.  He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need."  Acts 17:22-25 
• He determined history!  "From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth.He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.  His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him - though he is not far away from any of us."  Acts 17:26-27
• We owe Him our very existence!  "For in him we live and move and exist.  As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'  Acts 22:28
• God isn't defined by man!  "And since this is true, we shouldn't think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone."  Acts 22:29
• God knows when we forget Him!  "If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods,God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart."  Psalm 44:20-21
• We cannot neglect Our Heavenly Father - He fathered us - we are alive because of Him!  "You neglected the Rock who had fathered you;  you forgot the God who had given you birth."  Deuteronomy 32:18
• We must remember and recognize His Holiness - He is to be revered and honored!  "Who will not fear you, Lord and glorify your Name?  For you alone are holy.  All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed."  Revelation 15:4
• Though He is Holy, We can call Him 'Abba,' - Daddy!  "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."  Galatians 4:6

Though I could go on and on about my wonderful Heavenly Father, let me instead leave you with some thoughts.  How is your relationship with Him today?  Are your feelings for Him merely sentimental or do they go much deeper?  Is your relationship with Him too casual, not properly recognizing His Holiness and Righteousness?  Or maybe you have too formal of a relationship, unable to call Him "Abba," Daddy?  Is He your Rock, the One you lean on daily?  Or is He merely a nicety but not a realistic option for you? 

God is the One and Only God.  He is our most wonderful Heavenly Father.  He is our Rock who birthed us and gave us life. He is real!  So today, let us honor Him!

A prayer for today:  "Lord, do not let me forget You!  Jesus came to point us to you, to restore us into a relationship with you!  You love us.  You desire and chase after us!  Please do not let me neglect YOU!  So today, Lord, on Father's Day, may I honor and worship You.  Lead me into a deeper understanding of You, Heavenly Father!  Help me to keep a healthy spiritual balance of the Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!  Grown me more and more into the image of Your Son so that I may do Your Will!  I love you, Abba!  I praise Your Holy Name!  Thank you for godly men in my life who have pointed to You, my Heavenly Father!  In Jesus Name!  Amen"

In His Love, Cathy