You gotta know my DAD...

I've been reading through the gospels of Matthew and Mark lately. This time through there is an underlying thought that has been jumping off the page. It may be an over simplification but I think it's on the money. Here is the message of Jesus in a nut shell: You gotta know my DAD!

I'm not talking about, "You have to know Him to be saved", though that is certainly the case. But there is something different, something better to be convinced of here than just fire insurance. I'm talking about Jesus being overwhelmed by the goodness of His "Dad" which overflowed in a desire for others to know that goodness too.

John 1:17-18
For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

Jesus came to make the Father known as more than just a holy God who cannot tolerate sin, but also a loving, caring, forgiving God who longs for us to be reconciled to Him. Paul even says in Romans 8 that this knowledge of Him causes us to cry out to Him, "Abba, Father". Abba is an intimate form of Father that can be translated as Daddy.

Many times while mentoring the disciples to know His Dad, He would say to them, "You of little faith." Again, I think this lack of faith goes beyond believing that He is capable of helping them. This reaches deeper into our souls and asks the convicting question, "Don't you believe He is good and cares deeply for you?"

I have no problem believing God is amazingly and mind blowingly powerful. He is capable of feats beyond our wildest imagination. But there are times that I've wrestled with thoughts of His care and concern for me. I know that He is a loving God and that He loves the sinner. But does He love me... right here... right now... in this circumstance? Oh me of little faith. This is why it is so vitally important to be in the Word daily. The Scriptures or so clear on this point that God so loved the world. For those of us that have embraced Jesus as our Savior, He will not hold anything back.

Romans 8:32

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

If He went far enough to even give His only precious Son... If He desired our reconciliation to Him so deeply.... If He ached for our coming home enough to allow the cross... who in their right mind would even imagine that He would withhold His amazing goodness from us after we return? Many times Jesus healed people in the gospels and said, "May it be done according to your faith." So I ask you the question, how is your faith in His goodness toward you? Are you holding on to things that you know are wrong because you doubt His goodness can be better? Oh believer and non-believer alike, believe He is good and come to Him as a cherished child to an infinitely loving Father. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Let your evangelism say simply and genuinely... You gotta know my DAD!

Prayer as an expression of love

Inspired by: Prayer as a way of walking in love ~ Francis Chan (http://bit.ly/es5cBh)

I'm listening to a talk by Francis Chan on the topic of prayer as a walk in love. There is something that he just said that stuck out to me. He was painting the contrast between "busy… get a bunch of stuff done" prayer and prayer that emanates out of worship of Him. So often we get caught up in the things that we are doing "for" God. We make all these plans and have all these great ideas and we just ask God to bless them. Rather than that, Francis talks about this idea of abiding in Jesus. His words indwell us. We meditate much on Him, His goodness, His grace, His holiness, His love, His justice. When we are abiding in Jesus we are consumed with Him. I wanted to say we are in worship, but I think that term has become too ambiguous much the same way that love now can be interpreted as lust. There are times when you are in the word that you are locked in. You get it. You are excited to be there and you don't want to leave. You have just seen a part of Jesus or the Father that blows your mind. He is so good that we feel small and He feels big and you are more than ok with that.

This is the abiding that I think we strive for. When we are walking that way, daily striving to stay near to God in all that we do, God honors our prayers. In 1 Peter 4:7 it says, "The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer." So what are we getting drunk on that is clouding our judgment? Is it media, friends, good times, drinking, the significant other? Gut check: How much time are you spending with Him rather than all the other distractions? I'm not saying you can't take your nose out of the book. What I am saying is that when you close the book, you don't have to close your mind to Him. Keep Him near in your conversations, in your activities, in your work. Stay "sober" for the purpose of prayer because the end of all things is near. Abide in Him and pray what He lays on your heart. If you abide, you may just get to the point that you are surprised when He doesn't answer a prayer.