Yesterday, you might have noticed (or you didn’t) that I didn’t write anything, do a video, but was, for the most part, silent on line. I made a decision: I was going to go with my son’s (Phinehas) school for their annual 5th and 6th grade fishing trip. I suspended all work activities, threw our poles and tackle into the back of the truck, went to the local dollar store, spent way too much money on snacks, food and drinks (most of which we didn’t eat, at least not at the park), and waited for the buses to leave. I was the first parent behind the buses. I was so excited to do this for my kiddo, who was, I think, more excited that I was coming. We caught a small catfish first cast, and then Phinehas caught a river mussel (don’t know how that happened), but not much else. We then met up with a friend and her dad for treats at the local McDonald’s. It was a good day, and I am sure there will be great memories (Phinehas is already planning for us to go fishing with his brothers soon), but it got me thinking.
Jesus tells us to call God “abba” which is still a term used in the middle east for “papa” or “daddy” (I won’t call God “daddy God” for anything, that just makes me queasy). But it’s an endearing term, used often for a relationship of a child to their parent. If I, who am an earthly father, wicked, want this kind of time with my child, how much more does God wish me to pursue Him in a personal way? His goal is not to get me to do things for Him (as if He needs it), His goal is for me to get to Him! He believes in it so much that He sent the law and the prophets so He could be in the midst of His people, and, when the people rejected Him, He sent His Son, Jesus, to die that we might be, once for all, reconciled to Him. I fail in that relationship, often, but He never fails. He prepares good things for me, many of which I don’t even partake in because, at times, I’m focused on me, but He loves me, and always draws me back. Thank you, God, for these times with my sons, which teach me of my great need to seek You out. Forgive me that I often fall short in doing so.
Psalm 63
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
But those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
they shall be a portion for jackals.
But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped.
Romans 8:12-39
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
God’s Everlasting Love
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
