I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one…. 1 John 2:12-14
… The interesting thing is I had years before read the book The Blessing by Gary Smalley & John Trent. In that wonderful book, the authors explore our human need for approval and validation. They show how this need was met in the Biblical blessings given by fathers to children. But they shared how we could also do this for our children today and for others we care about.
The authors listed 5 elements to the Blessing:
The parent-child relationship is perhaps the most critical metaphor of our relationship with God. Why? Because it’s in our relationship with our earthly fathers that we begin to form our concept of God our heavenly Father — for good or for ill.
But all is not lost if our concept of God is askew, filled with false beliefs of what God is really like. There is an Abba Father who fathers us with unconditional love and acceptance, tenderness, and the “loving sternness” that comes with parenting in truth.
Read More… The interesting thing is I had years before read the book The Blessing by Gary Smalley & John Trent. In that wonderful book, the authors explore our human need for approval and validation. They show how this need was met in the Biblical blessings given by fathers to children. But they shared how we could also do this for our children today and for others we care about.
The authors listed 5 elements to the Blessing:
The parent-child relationship is perhaps the most critical metaphor of our relationship with God. Why? Because it’s in our relationship with our earthly fathers that we begin to form our concept of God our heavenly Father — for good or for ill.
But all is not lost if our concept of God is askew, filled with false beliefs of what God is really like. There is an Abba Father who fathers us with unconditional love and acceptance, tenderness, and the “loving sternness” that comes with parenting in truth.
Read MoreLast week, John and I were near Charleston Falls, a beautiful park north of Dayton. We hadn’t been there in years. But since my physical therapy session placed us in the area, we decided to stop and hike a bit “for old times’ sake.”
When I entered the park, I immediately thought of a significant incident in my life with God that took place there. I first wrote about it in 2011 but decided to share it again. I don’t know about you, but I am always refreshed to revisit my need to walk in dependence with my Abba Father God every day.
So beloved siblings in the family of God, fellow children incognito, read and know you are loved and cared for.
Read MoreChapter 15 God's Process of GrowthKey Verses:
spiritual growth
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.I write to you, children, because you know the Father.I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 1 John 2: 12-14 ESV
Key Question:
What is Christian growth?
Read chapter 15 and answer the following:
1. Have you been tempted to believe that Christian growth occurs in only one certain How did that look to you?
2. What was the result of trying to put a box around God’s process in you?
3. Dan talks about three stages of growth from First John 2:12-14. What did God say to you through this description about God’s process of growth?
4. What does it mean to you that “God takes us in love” (p. 168)? What is God saying to you through that statement right now?
5. Think of two or three difficult circumstances in your life right now. Have you accepted that God is working on you to your benefit in each of these, or are you resisting God’s work? How does He want you to respond to Him in each circumstance?
6. Is there a contradiction between Christ living in us, as us, and Dan’s call to obedience on page 168? Why not?
7. Are there any areas in which God is calling you to be a responder to Him, to be obedient? If you have not yet responded, what has that done to your windowpane?
8. On pages 169 and 170, Dan says that God causes us to grow as He “uses the storms in the soul” to drive us to a place of inner rest. In what areas of your life are you not at rest? How is God telling you to respond to Him in those areas?
9. In what ways is your soul still turned outward, its attention on the body and the world? Is there an area or two in which you hear the wooing of God back to Him? What would it look like for you to respond to His wooing?
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV
None of us on this earth has had the perfect dad. Some of us, though, would say we had pretty darn good ones…
Someone like my friend Shirley. She describes her dad in two words…”Charles Ingalls”. You remember him…from Little House on the Prairie fame, the TV Dad played by Michael Landon -- incredibly wise, loving, patient, and fun-loving.
There is another dad I would say is in the “Charles Ingalls” category. He’s my son Jeremy. Jeremy’s two little boys, Evan and Carter, are simply crazy about him! Now, I would say that "Babci" (pronounced Bob-chee; Polish for grandma…and my title used by all my grandsons) borders on “rock star” status with those little boys… BUT not when Daddy is around (and rightfully so)!
One day, I was at their house when Jeremy arrived home. Suddenly, any attention I was receiving immediately shifted toward the front door as Daddy made his humble, but “bedlam-producing” entrance. Both Evan and Carter ran over to him screaming, jumping up and down -- each of them vying for his full attention. Talk about energy and excitement! This loving, game-playing dad was being smothered by his two adoring sons! Somehow I can’t imagine that these little guys will have many, if any, “father-issues” growing up.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
This makes me think about another Dad…one much more “Charles Ingalls-like” than Charles Ingalls…or my son Jeremy. A Father who is perfect in every way:
One who is there for me with love and wisdom and strength as I walk through this sin-cursed, broken world(James 1:5; 2Peter 1:2-3; Eph 3:20-21)
One who bestows every good and perfect gift (James 1:17)
One who gives joy and delight in His presence (Psalm 16:11)
Because of His Son Jesus, I can run to Him fully assured of being received with love and acceptance like Evan and Carter with their daddy (Heb 4:14-16).
Unlike them, however, I don’t have to vie with others for His full attention, because He is uniquely my Abba (Daddy in Bible language). Yet at the same time, He is Abba for multitudes of other sons and daughters…because He’s our Father GOD, and we are in His Son Jesus Christ(John 14:6; 1Cor 1:30).
So I ask myself, how readily do I run to my Heavenly Father as my source of joy, delight, love, and provision? Or do I rather turn to the"Babci's" of my life…the lesser “stars”, like appearance, activities, relationships, success, comfort, attention…good gifts, but not the Giver and Lover of my soul.
See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called children of God…and SUCH WE ARE! 1John 3:1
[First posted on June 15th, 2011]
You might also like the Abba Fatherseries and the Living as God's Child Bible study. Click for list of posts.
…I'm thinking about spiritual fathers. I've been blessed to have some. My life has been forever enriched by being "spiritually fathered" by these people of God.
This year one of them, Dr. Howard Hendricks, went home to be with the Lord. You may have been fathered by him also through his books and messages….
Read MoreJanet Renner Loyd has been a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ most of her life. Her formal education includes a degree in education from the University of Arizona and also a degree in Bible & Theology from Moody Bible Institute. For more than thirty years, she has been involved in teaching and leading women’s Bible studies, retreats, and meetings…most notably Precept upon Precept and various studies that she has personally developed. Professionally, Jan recently retired from teaching language and writing to GED and adult ESOL students.
About her life, Jan says, “The most important thing about me is my relationship with my Father God through my Lord Jesus Christ. I am forever grateful to Him for His love, mercy, and grace to me and my family and friends...and the world.”
Jan has been happily married to John Loyd for more than forty years. They have two adult, married children and five lively young grandsons.
