Devotional - July 23, 2004

He started with stating the obvious: man is inherently wicked and with no redeeming quality. After posing this fatalistic view, Paul then proceeded to say that God 's judgment rests on all men who don't know His righteousness. He asks, "How then can a person become righteous?" He concludes by saying that the only way that is made possible is through Jesus Christ's atonement. Then how shall we live? He give the answer in chapter eight of Romans. (Re: 1:21-24;32;3:10,23;5:8)

It's fun to hear children arguing with their friends about which one has a daddy that is "better" than their friends' father. They use job, possessions, amount of money and anything they can to prove their point. But the one who says my daddy talks to me all the time or my daddy takes me fishing often gets the quiet admiration of the other kids.

In Christian terms, we often speak of knowing God as "Father." In fact, only those who have been redeemed through the blood of Christ have that distinction. Jews regard Jehovah God as out of reach except through the intercession of a priest. Most Roman Catholics see God as high above their circumstances and approach him through Mary, the mother of Jesus and an earthy father in the clergy.

Those who are lost don't know God at all. But Christians are blessed in that we can not only approach God directly in prayer but we can know him as our Heavenly Father. The term used by Paul in Romans 8, is actually a more endearing term than "Father." The word, Abba is actually closely akin to our term "Daddy."

Some people are blessed to have an earthy "Daddy." They are most blessed as many fathers are neglecters and users of their children. And all too often they use their relationship of implied trust to abuse the very ones who look up to them as their protectors. But our Heavenly Father is far more than a blood-related father and more than a priestly father who looks out for us. Our Father is everything we wish our earthly fathers were and more. He owns everything and rules everyone. He created us and will carry us in His arms across the threshold of the next life. We can trust our Heavenly Father.

Do you know God in a Daddy-like relationship? Can you trust anyone to love you like the Almighty can love you? Do you know that your Heavenly Daddy cares more about you than you can imagine? It's true! We have a privilege that the Old Testament people didn't have. They knew him as a God far off. We can know him as a God standing beside us, waiting for us to take time and talk and walk with him. Yes, that's right. The only way to enjoy a relationship with your heavenly Daddy is to spend time in prayer with Him.

How close are you to your Heavenly Father?

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( 2 Ch. 8:11-10:19 Rm. 8:9-23 Ps. 18:16-34 Pr. 19:26 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society