Show Us the Father
Many agree that when thinking about God, the concept of father carries a lot of weight. Most Christians struggle to understand the role and heart of the Father throughout the Bible. Who is this Father that Jesus loved so much? What is He like and how does His character impact our lives?
We see God the Father working to bring us to new maturity. This shows itself in four stages:
1. The Baby Stage: The Father as our creator, nurturer, and sustainer
2. The Teen Stage: The Father as our discipliner and pruner
3. The Adult Stage: The Father as our trusted friend and confidant
4. The Heavenly Stage: The Father as the Ancient of Days
The Baby Stage: A baby can’t hide from their parents. The Bible speaks of us being adopted into the family of God and becoming true children (babies) of the Father. When we understand this, our entire identity changes. We know who we are and that we belong to a Father that loves, nurtures, and takes care of our needs.
The Teen Stage: The teen years are about becoming independent and learning to make consistent choices that lead to becoming men and women of faith. God, as Father, is the one who administers both discipline and pruning. The difference is that discipline involves sin, and pruning involves growth. A father that loves a child will both discipline (expose things to crush sin and create the desire to repent) and prune (cut things off so your life bears more fruit.)
The Adult Stage: In the adult stage, we become a friend of God. We’re an ally he can trust to pray for others, not just ourselves. This stage is marked by:
1. Intimacy and Companionship
2. Intentionality and Regular Communication
3. Intercession
The Heavenly Stage: This stage of maturity shows God the Father in His heavenly role as the Ancient of Days. The prophet Daniel saw the Father as the eternal God who is worshipped, revered as Judge, and the one who receives His son, the Savior of the world…Jesus Christ.
As we grow through these stages of maturity, we understand the Father, and the depth and breath of His unfathomable love for us as His children.
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