Quote: Your Heavenly Father

~ He Treats Us As Individuals ~

Should a father encourage and direct his children differently?

The following is an excerpt from a book.

Consider the imagery in Scripture of God as our heavenly Father. This is probably the most pervasive of all images we have of God. Think of what that relationship means in human terms. For example, as a father, I had desires or a general will for each of my two daughters as they grew to maturity. Included in my general desire was that they would both grow into adulthood as honest, upright Christians who marry another strong believer. In fact, even before my wife was pregnant we as a couple prayed not only for our future children’s eternal salvation but that God would be preparing His choice of a life partner for them.

However, as a father I also had more specific wishes, desires, based largely on my children’s abilities and skills. Because they were talented in different ways, my desires were not identical for both of them. My general desires were identical, but I had specific desires for each which were based on their personalities, talents, and interests. As a father I did not reveal all my secret wishes unless and until they sought counsel from me. Do you think our heavenly Father operates differently?

The Specific Will of God, like the General Will of God, expresses what pleases God but is focused on what pleases Him in specific instances—it relates to you specifically and to decisions that you make. Unfortunately, it is not clearly laid out in Scripture and is not always carried out—but you can know it and do it! My definition of His specific will is God’s desire for you.

~ from “THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH: Understanding God’s Will for You” by Robert Lloyd Russell, pgs 7-8 (ISBN: 9781606474303)

Learn more about this important book at Amazon, the Publisher, or the Author’s website. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

7 Aspects of God, 1of3

~ God—The Father ~

Our God is revealed in the Word of God as:

The God of All Grace  ~  “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.  To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:10-11).

The God of Peace  ~  “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21). 

The God of All Comfort  ~  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). 

The God of Patience  ~  “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.  Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:4-6). 

The God of Hope  ~  “Isaiah says: ‘There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.’  Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:12-13). 

The God of Glory  ~  “And he said, ‘Brethren and fathers, listen:  The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, “Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you”.’” (Acts 7:2-3). 

Our God Forever  ~  “For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death” (Psalm 48:14). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .