Guest blogger today is my wife Crystal, visit her blog at The ‘Paynes’ in Life to read more of what she has written.
God is……Father
When you look at those around you and think of God, who is it that you can say “That person is the vision I get when I think of God as father”? For me, its my step-dad, well I call him Dad, he is who I see when I think of God as Father. He had to deal with a mess of crap that most men wouldn’t want to deal with much less think about.
Let me share a bit. When I was two my Mom and Dad met again for the first time, they used to go to high school together about five years prior. After three years of dating and three proposals later they got married. I was five at the time and a little brat. Within two years of marriage things became a nightmare for me and my Mom. But through it all my Dad was a supporter and an encourager to us both. Even when things were at there worse I can look back and see the love that this man had for a child that wasn’t even his own.
Now think of this, God is Father, OUR heavenly Father. If my step-dad can do all he did for me imagine what God can do. We are Gods children, imagine how it looks from Gods perspective when His children need and relay on Him.
Now I ask you to finish this sentence:
________________gives me a visual of who God is as Father.
NO!! Really now get deep I don’t want surface stuff I want the deep down stuff.
My husband, Chris, is who I think of when I think of God as Father. Chris’ love, friendship, and acceptance were such a powerful and real example of the love I now know God has for me – His child – that it propelled me into wanting to know God more. The more I experienced the joy of being accepted and loved just as I was, the more I trusted Christ. It was an incredible transformation.
________________gives me a visual of who God is as Father. I prefer to leave this blank. Many will question why I will leave it blank. Simple. I’m not sure I know anyone who who exemplifies what was intended by the phrase, “Who God is as a Father.” True, I know many people, but in my life now, I am losing faith in people. Mainly Christians, or people who profess to be Christians, yet are actually less Christlike than many Atheists I know. I’m not trying to come across as perfect, cause God knows I am not. So, as I continue my quest to become a fully devoted follower of Christ, I must leave the answer blank for now. Does this mean I am turning from Christianity? No way, I’m running closer to Jesus. I strongly believe Jesus will guide me to where I belong and allow me to continue to spread the good news. God Bless You all.
I, too, would not fill in the blank, but for different reasons than Lance.
I don’t want to put limits on God. There is not one person on this earth that has not let me down in some way. When I start to say things like “That person gives me a visual of who God is as Father.” I limit God. It’s great for a while, until they show their humanness and fail me. Once that happens, my visual of who God is as Father is no longer of a perfect Father, but a flawed one. I don’t want to get the two mixed up.
I understand that this is not what you were inferring, but in my mind, and the way I think, I must make the distinction.
I am not able to wrap my head around the concept of God as father…I’d like to. I echo both Lance and Karen’s thoughts here…people are so fragile and disappointing.
My father was so unpredicatable, harsh and hypocritical when I was young… the love in our home often felt conditional…My life, although surrendered to Christ as a small child…has suffered as a result…
While I am sure the imagery is 100% valid (as Jesus surely atested)…I am leaving that space blank too…letting God be that and more.