We
are looking at Paul’s prayer recorded in Ephesians 1:15-21. After
telling that he did not cease to give thanks for them, and to
remember them, Paul tells that the prayer is addressed to the “God
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory” (verse 17).
Expanding in this in Ephesians 3:14,15 he describes Him as “the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven
and earth is named.” For many the concept of God as Father is
difficult, and this is largely because we tend to confuse Father God
with our earthly father. Working in prison ministry I hear stories
that would break your heart, and it's no wonder that God is rejected
when He is identified with them. But there are fathers who are good
role models, and the Ephesians 3 reference implies that they are more
accurate models of Father God.
My
own father, though I knew he love me, was a workaholic and
essentially love me from a distance. It took me a long time to
realize that Father God is not like that. Perhaps this is you this
morning. But no matter how good or bad your father was, any goodness
there, is but a pale reflection of the goodness of God. For me the
clearest picture of the goodness of Father God is of the father of the prodigal
son (Luke 15:11–32). The son, by demanding his inheritance
“right now,” was essentially wishing the father was dead. The
father, knowing it was the only way to win him back, gives him his
inheritance, and lets him go. The Lord does that with us too. He
lets us go our own sweet way. And then, again like the prodigal, when
circumstances and our own poor choice bring us to the end of
ourselves, we too “come into our right mind,” and repent and
become willing to reconcile with the father (verses 17, 18).
As I say, the
goodness of the prodigal's father, is a picture the
goodness of God. And like the prodigal's father, He waits for us so
He can be gracious to us (Isaiah 30:18). When the son repents and
returns, the father lavishes his affection on him, gives him dignity
and honour, and restores him to sonship. Consider then what manner of
love and goodness the Lord has bestowed upon us that we should be
called His children (1 John 3:1, 2). The World rejects Him, but “to
as many as received Him, He gave the right and the authority to
become God’s children (John 1:12). And as sons, we are joint heirs
with Christ (Romans 8:17), and we receive “the riches of the
glory of His inheritance” (Ephesians 1:18), this together with many
many benefits of His passion (Psalm 68:19).
Part of Paul’s prayer is that we would grow in the knowledge of
these things, in particular growing in the knowledge of His
goodness.
Father,
in many ways my thought are spilling over into next day’s post, that we may know You more and more, and that we may
experience Your goodness. I believe Lord that if we knew You more, we
would run to You. Help us Lord not to let bad experiences with
parents, others, or the Church turn us off You. And Father I ask
this morning, that You expose the lies we have believed about You, in
particular the lie that You are not good, for indeed You are Lord. And I
praise and bless You again Lord in Jesus Name Amen
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