Wherein Lies the Happiness of Having God for Our Father?
1.
If God is our Father, He will teach us. What father will refuse to
counsel his son? Does God command parents to instruct their children, and will not he instruct his children? Deuteronomy 4:10.
"I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit." Isaiah 48:17.
"O God, you have taught me from my youth." Psalm 71:17.
If
God is our Father, he will give us the teachings of his Spirit. "The
natural man receives not the things of God, neither can he know them." 1
Corinthians 2:14. The natural man may have excellent notions in theology, but
God must teach us to know the mysteries of the gospel after a spiritual manner.
A man may see the figures upon a dial, but he cannot tell how the day goes
unless the sun shines; so we may read many truths in the Bible, but we cannot
know them savingly, until God by his Spirit shines upon our soul.
God
teaches not only our ear, but our heart! He not only informs our mind, but inclines our will. We never learn
anything until God teaches us. If He is our Father, He will teach
us how to order our affairs with discretion (Psalm 112:5) and how to live
wisely. "David behaved himself wisely." 1 Samuel 18:5. He will teach
us what to answer when we are brought before governors; He will put words into
our mouths. "You shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake;
but take no thought how or what you shall speak; for it is not you who speaks,
but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you." Matthew 10:18, 19, 20.
2.
If God is our Father, He has bowels of affection towards us. If it
be so unnatural for a father not to love his child, can we think God can be
defective in His love? All the affections of parents come from God, yet are
they but a spark from His flame. He is the Father of mercies. 2 Cor 1: 3. He
begets all the mercies and bowels in the creature; His love to His children is
a love which passes knowledge. Ephesians 3: 19. It exceeds all dimensions; it is
higher than heaven, it is broader than the sea.
That
you may see God's fatherly love to his children: Consider, God makes a precious
valuation of them. 'Since you were precious in my sight.' Isaiah 43: 4. A father
prizes his child above his jewels. Their names are precious, for they have
God's own name written upon them. 'I will write upon him the name of my God.'
Revelation 3: 12. Their prayers are a precious perfume; their tears He bottles.
Psa 56: 8. He esteems his children as a crown of glory in his hands. Isa 62: 3.
God loves the places where they were born in for their sakes. 'Of Zion it shall
be said, This and that man was born in her'; this and that believer was born
there. Psalm 87: 5.
He
loves the ground his children tread upon; hence, Judea, the seat of His
children and chosen ones, He calls a delight some land. Malachi 3: 12. It was not
only pleasant for situation and fruitfulness, but because His children, who
were His Hephzibah, or delight, lived there. He charges the great ones of the
world not to injure His children, because their persons are sacred.
'He allowed no man to do them wrong, yes, He reproved kings for their
sakes, saying, Touch not mine anointed.' Psalm 105: 14, 15.
By
anointed is meant the children of the high God, who have the unction of the
Spirit, and are set apart for God. He delights in their company. He loves to
see their countenance, and hear their voice. Cant 2: 14. He cannot refrain long
from their company; let but two or three of His children meet and pray together,
He will be sure to be among them.
'Where
two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of
them.' Matthew 18: 20. He bears His children in his bosom, as a nursing father
does the sucking child. Numbers 11: 12; Isaiah 46: 4. To be carried in God's bosom
shows how near His children lie to his heart. He is full of solicitous care for
them. 'He cares for you.' I Peter 5: 7. His eye is still upon them, they are
never out of His thoughts. A father cannot always take care for his child, he
sometimes is asleep; but God is a Father that never sleeps. 'He shall neither
slumber nor sleep.' Psalm 121: 4.
He
thinks nothing too good to part with for His children; He gives them the
kidneys of the wheat, and honey out of the rock, and 'wines on the lees well
refined.' Isaiah 25: 6. He gives them three jewels more worth than heaven - the
blood of his Son, the grace of His Spirit, and the light of His countenance.
Never was there such an indulgent, affectionate Father.
If
He has one love better than another, He bestows it upon them; they have the
cream and quintessence of His love. 'He will rejoice over thee, He will rest in
His love.' Zepheniah 3: 17. He loves His children with such a love as He loves
Christ. John 17: 26. It is the same love, for the unchangeableness of it. God
will no more cease to love His adopted sons than He will to love His natural
Son.
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