Daily devotional, August 21, 2024
The Coffee Mug
"But now, O Lord, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand." Isaiah 64:8
I have been a daughter for decades and year in and year out, I see that mug every Father’s day, on sale for every daughter or son to buy. In it were inscribed in various fonts, colors and designs these three words: “Best Dad Ever.” And so I thought when I was much younger, if I bought that mug, and another kid decides to buy it, then his dad is also the best ever? To my mind, that cannot be because only one dad could be the best.
Fast forward to recent years, I have figured out that each of us indeed has the best dad ever — and He is our Heavenly Father. God, Lord, Ama, whatever we call Him, is the best father there is, firstly because in spite of our humanity and imperfection, He chose us to be His children.
“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”
1 John 3:1
Like any good father, our Heavenly King dutifully provides for us. While He is more than capable of giving us everything that we will ever want, as a good parent, He gives us what we truly need. What we truly need to survive our earthly life, what we truly need to nourish our souls.
"And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you."
Luke 12:29-31
You see sometimes, we pray for things that will not be good for us. And the great thing about having an All-knowing God for our parent, is that He knows what will make us thrive, and what will thwart our growth. He knows what is good and perfect for us.
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!"
Matthew 7:11
Moreover, to ensure that we will live good lives, He also disciplines us. God’s teachings and commands are not there to stifle us, His rules are created and meant to be obeyed so that we could fully live and enjoy our lives.
Imagine a basketball game or any sporting activity played without rules? Will it be enjoyable to play? How would you know if you are doing good and progressing? and more importantly will it be fulfilling to score all those points when there was no challenge at all because of the absence of rules? The same goes with our earthly existence. Our God is both loving and just, for our own good.
"My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord, Or loathe His reproof, For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights." Proverbs 3:11-12
So take a moment right now and examine your relationship with our Heavenly Father. How do you see Him? Do you see Him as a distant God? A punisher who will send you to hell because of the wrong things you have been doing? A genie whom you call on for your wishes and needs? Is He an emergency exit that you only go to when you are in a crisis situation?
If you do not have yet a relationship with Him — meaning you have not genuinely felt His presence i your life and you do not talk to Him everyday through your prayers, and you do not listen to Him by reading, reflecting and meditating on the bible– then it may be time for you to hear His call.
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20
Quiet yourself and listen to your heart. Is it calling you to finally make that move towards God, and finally surrender your life to Him by making Him the Lord and Savior that He is? Is your heart telling you that you need a Heavenly Father to guide you through the darkness that you are in, so that you can finally come to the light?
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God"
John 1:12
We may not all be blessed with ideal earthly fathers, and that may have caused us to be resentful. But God, in all His Glory, made Himself a father to us in spite of our sinful lives and imperfection. Let us grab His hand and accept His offer to tuck us under His wings of love and protection. For we all need a father whom we can depend on to watch over us, guide us, and protect us.
“With weeping they will come, And by supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, On a straight path in which they will not stumble; For I am a father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.”
Jeremiah 31:9
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Hebrews 12:3-17 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Do you see God as your Heavenly Father?
Conversation with the Lord: God almighty, thank you for adopting us into your family and calling us your children. Thank you for the love, patience, mercy and graciousness towards me. For the many times I failed to appreciate your love, I am deeply sorry. Allow me to be more mindful of your love, and be more thankful of your presence in your life. Amen.
