THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP - God The Father

THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP The Discipline of Getting to Know God the Father – The First Person of the Trinity Many children grow up with a fear of their father. He may be abusive – either by neglect or verbally or physically, or sexually. How sad that there is such a large number of children who live with abuse every day not knowing what a caring, patient and involved father is. These children may look around at some of the dads of their friends and long for a father like theirs. Many adults have only hurtful memories of their father, and many scars from the wounds they suffered as children, and determining they will not be like their father when they become a parent. But, sadly statistics show that most abusers are children of abusers. As the old saying goes, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” But there is hope! There is a Father in heaven Who is that kind, benevolent, patient and loving Father everyone wishes they had. His love is unfathomable – it is unconditional – it is eternal. We can’t be so bad that it will make Him love us any less. Nor can we be so good that He will love us any more. He is all wise, completely faithful, al\ways kind and good. He will never leave us nor forsake us. We cannot go so far from Him that He doesn’t know where we are. In fact, He goes before us down the right path He has planned for us and cleans away all the rocks and snares and shines His Light on all the pitfalls Satan has put in our way that might make us fall. We just have to keep our eye on Him and our hand in His hand, and stay close by His side. He has given us an “Instruction Manual” for life. And if we read it carefully and follow Its’ instructions, and if we will trust Him with all our hearts, He will direct our path, fight all our battles for us and cause us to triumph in all things through Christ Jesus, His Son. He will be very involved in our lives, if we will let Him. Truthfully, He is not just “involved” in our lives but He is our Life when we choose to make Him our Father. Because of his Infinite love for us, God the Father sent His Son, Jesus, to come to earth to live with us humans to be our example and to die for us and be our Savior, to rise from the dead and ascent back into heaven, where He sits on the right hand of the Father to intercede for us. What a magnanimous plan! What love! What mercy! What grace! And to think, God the Father can be our personal Father just by our trusting in Him! We just have to stand in reverence and awe of Him! The Father’s Word, the Bible – our “Instruction Manual” says we are to “fear” Him. But this is a much different kind of fear that from what we experience when we fear what man or a devil can do to us. Men and devils are cruel, hateful and unjust. The fear of God the Father is a “dreadful reverence” for Him, a “profound adoring and awed respect.” It is hard to wrap our minds around that combination of verbs and adverbs. Webster says “dreadful” is an “inspiring dread or reverence.” To me, this means the type of fear that inspires us to worship and respect the greatness and sovereignty of God the Father, and places a desire to obey Him, knowing that He is a “holy” God Who hates rebellion and sin;. Because He loves us, He is faithful to keep His Word to punish those who rebel against His Word, but rewards those who desire to obey Him and love Him. He is Holy (pure – free from sin), yet just. Prov.8:13 tells us that “the fear of God includes the hatred of evil.” The Holman Bible Dictionary refers to this kind of fear as, "the human response to the presence of God." Priscilla Shirer says, "This type of fear combines reverence for God's majesty and respect of His power. It is a reverential regard and awe that comes out of recognition and submission to the divine." “God takes sin very seriously, especially sin in the lives of His children. In the school of the Christian life, there is discipline, sometimes severe discipline” (Erwin Lutzer, Part 5). To be just, the Father must punish those who intentionally sin, both His children and those who are not (unbelievers). For God’s children, the Father uses this “punishment” as discipline to correct and bring back the rebellious, and that they may learn that in order for the Father to remain holy, He must be just in administering what sometimes seems as very harsh discipline. If the child learns from his sins and repents and returns to the fellowship of the Father, there will be great rejoicing for him by the Father and all who have observed this lesson. The unbeliever who never repents will eventually experience the ultimate punishment. Because the Father is holy (He is pure) is one reason why we must “fear” Him. When we become tainted with sin, He disciplines (corrects) us to draw us back into His fellowship and holiness. He desires for us to be holy as He is holy (I Peter 1:14-17), so we can have constant fellowship. Any sin is against the Father and His holiness, and it separates us from fellowship with Him, which He desires. Charles Stanley in his “In Touch” magazine points out some positive things for “the proper fear of God:” 1) The beginning of wisdom (Ps.111:10); 2) Have a strong family with children who grow to be courageous for the truth (Ps.111:1-2); 3) Light of deliverance will arise in the darkness of hardships (Ps.1112:4); 4) The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and each of them He delivers (Ps.34:7). For all believers God the Father has chosen to compare Himself to our earthly father and we are His children – the “family of God.” To all believers He is, “Abba Father,” which is the endearing Aramaic name for “Father.” In English we would say, “Papa” or “Daddy.” This word, “Abba,” was first used in Mark 14:36 where Jesus was crying in his agony to the father, as a child would to his earthly father. Again “Abba” was used in Romans 8:15, where Paul was speaking to the “sons of God” said, “For the Spirit which you have now received is not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption (the Spirit that produces sonship), in the bliss of which we cry, Abba (Father)!” And again when Paul was writing to the Church in Galatia, he reminded them, “Because you really are His sons, God has sent the Holy Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba (Father)” (Gal.4:6)! Since we too are children, we can think of God the father as our spiritual “Daddy.” This “Daddy” will never abuse us in any way, but only love us. He will never be an absentee father, but will be completely involved in our lives; He will never neglect nor leave us, but will be with us forever. Because we are His children, He invites us to “come boldly to His throne of grace (unmerited favor), that we may receive mercy for our failures and find grace to help for every need, just when we need it” (Hebrews 4:16). Child of God, how well do you know your Father? WHAT A GOD! WHAT A FATHER!