Message From The Father
By Janelle Hill
Our local newspaper often runs stories about parents and kids – in fact in the last two days a total of four such articles were written in our local paper. One article said that mothers should spend more time caring for their appearance so that they would be ‘yummy not frumpy.’ Another stated that mums and dads should spend more time helping their kids stay active, while the other two articles proclaimed that we were raising ‘marshmallow children’ who are unable to cope with daily life.
As a parent I often feel that there are many conflicting messages coming to judge my children, my parenting, my choices and me. Funnily enough, these messages are usually accompanied by the subtle idea that ‘if I buy this book/gym membership/beauty product/seminar ticket then I’ll be happy, fulfilled and successful’. I’m sure this applies to other groups as well, not just parents. We are constantly fed messages that make us either feel guilty or discontent.
When we look at the Bible, perhaps we have thought God’s message to us was the same – ‘thou shall not ….’ In reality, God’s message or word to us is very different from the message of the world.
To begin with, God’s message is very personal and specific; it is not a general word to a general group of people. God sees us and knows us each individually, not just as a member of a category – ‘parent’, ‘teenager’ or ‘retiree’ etc. The Bible says He knows how many hairs are on our heads1 and that our very breath is in His hand.2 The book of Acts describes how God sent a man named Philip to speak to an Ethiopian who was riding in a chariot reading the Bible.3 God had a specific word for this specific man about his individual life. There are many other accounts in the Bible, of messengers coming to specific people, with a specific word from God.4 Today, the word of God is no different. God has something specific to say to you today. 1Matt 10:30. 2Job 12:10. 3Acts 8, 4Luke 19, Acts 9; Acts 16.
The book of Romans asks the question ‘how can we hear God’s word unless someone is sent to speak it to us?’ 5 When we are properly connected to God and His people we can hear a specific word from God about our lives. This message will always be consistent with the Bible, but will be specific to us. A preacher may speak a word that ‘lights up’ in our heart. Someone at church (who has connection with our life) may encourage or correct us in a specific matter, or we may read something from the Bible that gives us direction and hope. 5Rom 10:14 (paraphrased).
The second thing is that God’s word will be about whom God the Father meant us to be. We are to be His sons and daughters. While the world may try to tell us what we ‘should’ be or ‘could’ be, God’s word tells us who He has planned us to be. The apostle Paul said that we will be ‘sons of God’ when we believe in Jesus Christ.6 God has a specific plan for each one of us7 and it is not a long list of things we should, or should not, do. He wants to deal with our sin so that we can inherit our sonship! 6Gal 3:26. 7Rom 8:19, Phil 2:15, 1 Jn 3:1.
The third thing is that God’s word has power to change us and bring life. I have tried many wonder diets and exercise plans over the years, and although many of these plans have useful ideas, none of these plans have any intrinsic power to make me thinner or fitter! I must admit to some sense of personal failure when I ‘run off the rails again’ and those kilos slip back on. God’s word, however, brings something completely different. The Bible says that faith comes with God’s word,8 and Isaiah says that God’s word will ‘accomplish what it was sent to do’. 9 When God’s word comes to us, we have a choice to accept the person bringing the word and believe God’s message to us, or to reject both. When we accept and believe, a miracle happens and faith rises in our hearts. God’s power and life then comes to us so that we can ‘become sons and daughters of God’.11 As we walk in a lifestyle of hearing and obeying God’s word, we are changed each day ‘from glory to glory’.10 8Rom 10:17. 9Isa 55:11. 101 John 5:2. 112 Cor 3:18.
There is certainly a lot of useful information out in the world that can be helpful, but let us press in and find out what God is saying to us today. His word about you and His plan for you are right there, available with faith and power. Press in today into relationship with Him among His people so that you can hear His word that says ‘beloved, now are we the sons of God’. 1 John 3:2.
