“‘I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
I think that sometimes, for people who have known the Lord for a while, it is easy to forget what a big deal it is that God has chosen to be our father and he has chosen to make us his sons and daughters. I spend some time recently just thinking about this. I am a son of God. God is my father. It really is a big deal.
I was thinking specifically, what is true about a good father-son/father-daughter relationship. A few things comes to mind:
- The father protects the children
- The father also watches out for them, he has his eyes on their paths and tries to keep them safe
- The father provides for his children. For their needs, first, but also for their wants and desires oftentimes.
- The father encourages his children. He wants them to succeed so he gives them advice, praise, and comfort as they need it.
- The father is available for his children. He is never too busy; the children are high-priority.
- The father knows his children, and wants to be known by them. He does these things listed not out of duty, but out of love. Therefore, his deepest desire is to know and be known by the children.
The list could probably go on. All these things, while our earthly fathers may (will/do) fail in them, our heavenly father does not. What a blessing to have a father like that!
I share all this because it gives 2 Corinthians 7:1 new meaning and power. Since our father is like this and has promised to be like this, we ought to purify ourselves and perfect holiness in ourselves. If God is this good to us, doesn’t it make sense to want to please him in this way? I think so.