You Have a Very Good Heavenly Father
ICS Daily Devotions

Matthew 7:11 (NKJV) If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

God is often seen as a judge rather than a loving Heavenly Father. Although He is a judge who is righteous, holy, and just, He also desires a close relationship with mankind whom He created. Although sin caused man to be separated from God, He instituted the sacrificial system in the Old Testament so the people’s sins could be forgiven and He appointed a High Priest to minister on their behalf. This system pointed toward the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The law taught us about sin, its penalty, and our inability to stand before God based on our own strength. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but through Jesus, we can have righteousness and be reconciled to God.

God is love. He did not abandon His creation despite our sin. Instead, He pursued us with His love. Through the establishment of an unconditional covenant with Abraham, God ensured a foolproof plan for our salvation. Jesus came through the lineage of Abraham as the Messiah to deal with the sin issue that separated us from God. He made Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin for us so that we could have His righteousness. Through our belief in Jesus Christ, we can stand right before God in Christ every day of our lives without fear despite our weaknesses. God has chosen to see us in Christ daily because He wants to fellowship with us.

Acts 10:38 (NKJV) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

James 1:17 (NKJV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Nonetheless, we need to take the time to know God as a loving Heavenly Father while we are on earth, but first and foremost, we need to be convinced that God is good. The Bible reveals to us the character of God, and that Jesus came to declare the Heavenly Father to us. God has good intentions for His people. We learnt the Heavenly Father anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit, and Jesus went about doing good to those He ministered to. All good and perfect gifts come from the Heavenly Father of lights. He has no darkness, wickedness, or evil intent towards His children. We are in good hands if we place our faith and trust in the Heavenly Father.

God knows what is good and bad for us, and while He dotes on us, we need to accept, submit, and be obedient if He withholds some things from us. It is easier to seek God when we know that He is a good Heavenly Father. As the Holy Spirit draws us to seek the Lord, let’s spend time with Him so we can find rest in His presence in the midst of challenges.

Sermon Series: How Much More God