Some Thoughts Worth Sharing
For the last few days I've been thinking about something I heard, and would like to share it.
We heard a really good sermon on Sunday, Father's Day, about God's design and plan for the family, esp. the father's important role.
Luke 3:22b says, "And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him (Jesus) in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight!
Then a little further Luke 4:14 and 15 says (and stay with me, 'cause it's good) ,
"Then Jesus went back full of and under the power of the (Holy) Spirit into Galilee, and the fame of Him spread through the whole region round about.
And He Himself conducted teaching in their synagogues, being recognized and honored and praised by all."
And this is the point: THE FATHER'S APPROVAL CAME BEFORE HIS PERFORMANCE.
(The approval comes first to empower us to perform)
This approval should come from our fathers first, but so often fathers approval of their children comes only if they perform to their liking - instead of just the opposite. We get our meaning and significance from Daddy, beginning when we're very young. Fathers give messages, even without words, heart messages, either that we're "somebody" or "nobody". (We should never pressure people to perform to get our approval). Now I know there are no perfect parents, and we all need to forgive and receive forgiveness.....BUT, and here's the great news, the approval of the Father empowered the Son.
As children of God, co-heirs with Christ, our Heavenly Father's authority is greater than our human fathers, and He approves of us, and says that we're "somebody". We are His children, and He does not love Jesus any more than He loves us. He approves of us and delights in us, and understanding this deep down, empowers us to perform the works He has for each of us. This is very different from striving and performing for approval. This is freedom to do what He created us to do without striving to please others, because we have the approval of the Father who really matters.
We heard a really good sermon on Sunday, Father's Day, about God's design and plan for the family, esp. the father's important role.
Luke 3:22b says, "And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him (Jesus) in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight!
Then a little further Luke 4:14 and 15 says (and stay with me, 'cause it's good) ,
"Then Jesus went back full of and under the power of the (Holy) Spirit into Galilee, and the fame of Him spread through the whole region round about.
And He Himself conducted teaching in their synagogues, being recognized and honored and praised by all."
And this is the point: THE FATHER'S APPROVAL CAME BEFORE HIS PERFORMANCE.
(The approval comes first to empower us to perform)
This approval should come from our fathers first, but so often fathers approval of their children comes only if they perform to their liking - instead of just the opposite. We get our meaning and significance from Daddy, beginning when we're very young. Fathers give messages, even without words, heart messages, either that we're "somebody" or "nobody". (We should never pressure people to perform to get our approval). Now I know there are no perfect parents, and we all need to forgive and receive forgiveness.....BUT, and here's the great news, the approval of the Father empowered the Son.
As children of God, co-heirs with Christ, our Heavenly Father's authority is greater than our human fathers, and He approves of us, and says that we're "somebody". We are His children, and He does not love Jesus any more than He loves us. He approves of us and delights in us, and understanding this deep down, empowers us to perform the works He has for each of us. This is very different from striving and performing for approval. This is freedom to do what He created us to do without striving to please others, because we have the approval of the Father who really matters.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home