God Is A Father
EPHESIANS 3:15 Amplified
15 For Whom every family in
heaven and on earth is named,
[that Father] from whom all fatherhood takes it title and
derives its name.
I have included these different translations, with the notes
from the margin, to show that the Bible says that all
fatherhood derives from God. In other words, God is the
original Father. Everything good that fathers are, was in God
first. All earthly fatherhood is but a replica of what was
first in God.
EPHESIANS 3:14-15 NIV
14 For this reason I kneel
before the Father,
15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives
its name.
NIV NOTE: Or whom all fatherhood
EPHESIANS 3:14-15 NRSV
14For this reason I bow my
knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its
name.
NRSV Note: Gk fatherhood
One mission of Jesus on earth was to show us what God was like,
to reveal Him to us. Jesus introduced the concept of God as
Father. The Jews did not know God as Father because the Old
Testament does not teach it. No other religion had looked to
God as a Father. Instead God was generally thought of as a
judge at best, and often as a despicable character who could
only be trusted to let you down; someone who would play tricks
on you just for his amusement, and delight in disappointing
you.
Concepts of God haven't really changed much, have they!
But Jesus revealed to humanity that God was not like they
thought -- He was a good Father. Not someone who would do them
wrong, but someone who would take care of them with their best
interest always at heart. Someone who would love them more than
they loved themselves.
How do you think of God?
SAY THIS: God, I am glad to know You are a Father. Please help
me to always remember that.