God Is A Perfect Parent

MATTHEW 7:11 NIV 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

God is primarily a parent -- and a good one, too -- the best. Better than any earthly parent by far. I used to think of God primarily as a judge, someone watching to see if I did anything wrong so He could punish me. But that is not what the New Testament reveals to us. Jesus taught us to pray: "Our Father. . ." That is the primary way we should relate to God, as our Father.

Only once in the KJV New Testament do we find the phrase "God the judge," while the phrase "God the Father" is found thirteen times. Eleven times we find the phrase "God our Father," but not once do we find "God our judge." A good father will combine being a friend and also being a trainer. He will be tough when necessary, for the good of the child. That's the way it is with God. Yes, there are some things He has told us not to do -- but they are all for our good, because He knows there will be bad consequences if we do them.

We can be confident God is always playing the part of being a good parent to us. He is always trying to help us, nurture us, and encourage us. God is for us -- not against us. And, even when we do wrong and get in trouble -- God is there to help us -- not to condemn us. He is our perfect parent. We must realize that everything God does is for our benefit -- not His. God is raising a family. He is training us and encouraging us to grow up. Our destiny is to be like Jesus Christ. Children are not afraid of good parents, because they are there to nurture and help. However, a good parent will punish wrong- doing -- not because they want to hurt their child -- but because they want to train them so they can mature and do well in life. The primary desire of every good parent is to see their child grow up, to become a mature, responsible, capable adult. This is also the desire of God for His children. His desire is that we grow up to become mature like Christ. This requires a certain amount of freedom and responsibility. A parent cannot forever shelter children and expect them to mature properly. God wants us to learn to love, just like Christ did.

SAY THIS: God is a wonderful parent -- the best ever.

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