Our Father God adopts anyone willing to repent of our old way of living, and to allow His Spirit to sanctify us through God’s grace. There is no person too flawed to come to Him and to receive His mercy for their past lifestyle. Every Saint in God’s Word was flawed too, and He loves them all passionately.
During His lifetime, Jesus depended on our Father God each moment of every day. He filled His time doing what He saw the Father doing and carrying out God’s plans for His life (John 5:17-30). He made a habit of starting every morning and ending each day alone with God (Mark 1:35).
Although Jesus and the Father are one (John 10:30-36), God delighted in spending time with His Son and answering His prayers (John 12:28). Even though Jesus knew that His Father’s plan for His life was for Him to sacrifice it on Calvary’s cross, He also realized that God’s plan depended on His submission to it.
Jesus’ love for the whole world is a stunning truth that is strong enough to lift us from the mire of sin, to support us through every challenge we face, and to pour the oil of gladness on all our days (Psalm 45:7-8; Hebrews 1:9).
Jesus willingly went to the cross after His anguish in the garden. He cringed over the thought of taking on the sins of the whole world, as well as experiencing the cross without God’s presence to sustain Him (Matthew 27:45-50; Isaiah 53:10-11). Our sins did that to Him.
The foundation for our hope as authentic, Born Again Believers is that Jesus’ sacrifice was for the glory of Our Father and Himself, and the salvation of everyone humble enough to turn from our unrighteous lifestyle and to seek Him continually with the same intensity that a deer will thirst after the brook (Psalm 27:8-9, 42:1-5).
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for developing a deep relationship with us. Help us to know You more intimately, to follow You more closely, and to worship You more continually (John 17:1-26; Philippians 3:10). Remind us not to rely on our human strength, but to trust in You alone (Jeremiah 9:23-24; Proverbs 3:5-6). Help us to be transformed by renewing our mind and proving what is Your good, acceptable, and perfect will for our life (Romans 12:2).
Many complain about Your provision in their life because they want things done their way. However, if we watch, pray, rest in You, and wait on Your timing and way, You shower us with the light of Your countenance (Psalm 4:6). You are always merciful to us, bless us, and cause Your face to shine on us (Psalm 67:1). We do not want to continue to conform to the ways of this world, but to allow Your Spirit to transform us.
Thoughts for the Day:
Eternal life starts for us when we realize that He is the one true God along with Jesus Christ whom He sent (John 17:3). We are born of God, and we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord. We give Him the glory now and forever more (2 Peter 3:18). We know without a doubt that He hears our prayers, and we intimately know His Spirit of Truth (1 John 4:6-7).
