Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
The Bible invites us to "think of God." And when we do, it is not to think of Him as some infinite electronic-like intelligence that pervades the universe, but we are to think of Him as Someone infinitely close and personal--"Our Father which art in heaven ..."
Sometimes we humans have had earthly fathers who left us confused and bewildered at the word "father." But here's what John 3:16 says to us--"God so loved the world [that is, every individual, personal sinner in it] that He gave His only Son for us [which means that He loved us more than He loved Him], who chooses to believe in Him should not go on perishing within himself, but should have eternal life [not an extension of our present worldly and often painful existence], but the kind of life that Jesus has in His resurrection life."
A child cannot "create" his father; but the way the Bible is speaking, the child [that is, us] can formulate a vision of what "father" should mean; that is included in the command to "believe." The Holy Spirit is personally present with every individual to make this a thrilling experience that you share with the Father in private.
Your personal memories of your earthly father may be deficient, but the heavenly Father is not limited by your personal, individual deficiencies; He has a road or route direct to your individual human heart and He invites you to "believe" in Him in His fullness of love (agape).
You may say, "Impossible! I've gone too far." You cannot have gone too far because the Lord Jesus Christ is your Savior waiting to be recognized until you draw your last breath; and if illness has caused weaknesses in your thinking ability, it is not too late for you to "cry to [Him] out of the depths," for there "is forgiveness with [Him] that [He] might be [reverenced]" (see Psalm 130:1-4).
So, here is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, opening the gates of the New Jerusalem so that "all who would might enter, and no one is denied." Thank Him! Humble your heart [you can't respond with a proud heart!], and say "Amen!" and enter in, leaving all your pride behind.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 19, 2009.
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