As a father is kind to his children,
so the Lord is kind to those who honor him.
Psalms 103:1
Our God wants to be our Father. He wants to be a god, which you can only admire, worship and embrace from afar. He wants to be close to us and to participate in everything like a loving, patient, kind and benevolent father. He wants to protect us, like a powerful, almighty Lord. He wants to help us and to stand by us as the Lord of hosts. He is merciful, compassionate, slow to anger and full of forgiveness. Yes, that is our Father.
He is strong and holy, omnipotent and omniscient. We should have reverence for Him. He is holy; – And we are only dust: We should fear to grieve Him, to offend Him and should not play with His grace.
We do not need to be afraid of Him. Because His love in our hearts drives out the fear. When we know Him, then we are not afraid of Him. He loves to be with His children! If we ourselves do not know Him personally, then this uncertainty makes us fear: How is He? Does He love me? Has He really forgiven me? Is He the incorruptible judge who knows all my thoughts and judges them? If we do not know God as our Father, He makes us afraid. But fear and awe are very different things. God does not like it when His children are afraid of Him.
We want to live in the mercy of God. He has mercy on us, because of our work, our doubts, fears, worries and problems. He is there as a helper, savior and friend. He is the Father who cares for all His children and supplies them abundantly. He loves us, says YES to us, forgives all our sin and helps us in every situation.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, that You are with me! You look at me with the loving eyes of a Father, forgive and help me. You are friendly, kind, compassionate and merciful with me. How well that I have found You!!
Bible reading today: Psalm 103, 1 – 22