Heavenly Father's Day
Seek God early and often. Seek and you will find. Ask and you will be answered for the Father is always faithful.
“During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.” David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make atonement…The Gibeonites answered him, “We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family…What do you want me to do for you?” David asked. let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed…So the king said, “I will give them to you.” 2 Samuel 21:1-6
During a time of famine and difficulty, David realized that things were not right. So he sought the Lord. David’s default setting was to seek God. Is that yours? As he did, God revealed to him that there was healing in relationship that needed to occur for the people to have peace. David listened to God and asked the people what would bring them peace.
We might not like the idea of handing over the people to be punished for the sins of their family, but imagine that it was like the Nazi families being called to account for what their families had done to the Jews. It said that Saul had tried to annihilate these people. There was a process to reconciliation.
The bigger picture is that we can see the father’s will is to bring people together. He does not want old grudges to be everlasting offense that keeps us divided. We have a Father in heaven, who wants to speak truth into our lives and help guide us. How much time today will you seek the Father? When he answers, will you be obedient to doing His will?
“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness. When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me. May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar” Psalms 138:1-6
There is a continual message of seeking God within these scriptures. David sang that he called and God answered. More than just giving David advice, God gave him strength. David said you emboldened me. This is one of the things that Father’s should do with their kids whether male or female. They should teach them bravery and boldness. God does not make people weak. He makes the weak strong. If you are feeling weak in any way, have you sought the Lord for strength?
David reminded us of how important the posture of our heart is in hearing God. He said I bow down before you. He said God looks down on the lowly. Jesus' first teaching in the sermon on the mount was blessed are the poor in spirit. Where could you be more humble? How could you better bow down before the Lord?
“I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I amassed silver and gold for myself, I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness. What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness” Ecclesiastes 2:1-26
Solomon shared the hidden truths he had uncovered. At the core of all that he said two things stand out. Seek and see. Solomon was not wanting to sit back and sit on his hands. He actively sought meaning. Many people do not discover their divine design because they do not put in the effort to discover who they are. Solomon did not let other people decide who he was or where he could find meaning.
How many people pursue understanding like Solomon? Very few. He did not see failure as an adversary. He saw all of life as a process of learning and growing. Seeking and finding. Just because pursuing pleasure, possessions, and power did not turn out to be what brought him meaning does not mean the process was broken. We grow as we seek.
We could all learn from how Solomon approached life with a heart to seek understanding. What new opportunity have you been waiting to start? Where do you need to take a step of faith and give something a try?
After finding the truth, he came to the understanding that many older generations do as they age. That truth is that one of the Father’s greatest gifts to you is the gift of time. It might seem like a cliché to call the present a gift, but it is our most limited commodity. The power for transformation is in the present moment and there is beauty in each day if you have eyes to see everything as a gift from God.
Solomon said after all his seeking he found that the best thing he could do was to slowly appreciate the food that sustained him and find satisfaction with his work. He said do all this while seeing everyone and everything as a gift from God. Is that your heart? So often we lose our joy when we lose our gratitude. Solomon said be grateful and go make a difference in the world with the unique gifts you have been given that make you who you are. While God does desire unity. He is not seeking uniformity nor conformity. He wants you to be you and your heart to be His.
“When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord…Tell your master, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard…Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord…It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are the only God.” Isaiah 37:1, 5-20
Hezekiah is surrounded by a larger army that has annihilated everyone around him. He is hemmed in and losing hope. But his faith does not falter, and he seeks God. No matter what we face, nothing is greater, nor can stand against the power of God. The best thing we can do is continually seek God. How much time will you spend seeking God today? Do you tend to wait until things are really hard or do you seek first the kingdom like Jesus advised?
Hezekiah showed the importance of having a pattern of prayer. He was honest. God is his spirit and truth, and we have to speak in truth when we talk to God. That is the only time that healing occurs. Hezekiah did not say that he was not afraid nor facing no trouble. He said 'God honestly this guy has won every battle but he is not you. You are greater Lord God so do what only you can do.' Sometimes you just need to seek God , speak the truth, then trust that God will be faithful to His promise to deliver you.
“The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God…Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins…After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:1-35
It seems only appropriate that on Father’s Day we get the passage where God talks like a proud Papa. God said this is my son in whom I am well pleased. It is no accident at the very moment where Jesus was obedient to his father’s will, his father blesses Him. As God strengthens His Son, He sends Him to carry out the work to be done. Just like David said, as we hear God’s voice, He strengthens and emboldens us.
Notice the God did not tell Jesus to sit back and take it easy. We live in an interesting culture that tries to make things easy for our children, but that is not a holy model for living. It is the endurance of the struggles and strength gained from hard work that shapes one’s character. If we wonder why our world has a generation of children who struggle, perhaps it is because we have not taught them to understand their identity, how to listen to God, how to navigate challenges, and where to find meaning. Like the Heavenly Father we would do well to share the Spirit and help our sons and daughters see how to boldly live out their kingdom purposes. Maybe we should focus on teaching grateful endurance over a life of general ease.
Can you see the connection between Solomon and Jesus related to time? Solomon said today is a gift from God. Jesus said the time is now. Both preached the importance of embracing each day with a humble heart ready to honor God by being present. Will you be present today? Perhaps start by putting your phone away. Will you be grateful for all God has given? A holy response would be to sing praise like David and share the good news Jesus.
The chapter closed the same way our study began. Jesus spent time with God in prayer. He prayed early and often. Everything changes when we can learn to hear God’s voice and obey his will. Jesus said, seek and you will find, ask, and you will receive, knock in the door will be opened. We have a heavenly father who sees you and smiles.
He is pleased with you and wants you to unlock the satisfaction that comes with living out your purpose as His child. You are baptized with the Spirit and made to bravely bring the good news of the kingdom to others. The secret to success is learning that there is no secret. There is simply a Father in heaven who made you, knows you, is with you, is for you, and wants to guide you with His voice in all you do as you learn to be who He made you to be because He loves you.