'Calling on a Father'

 

S – 1 Peter 1: 17

 

‘Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.’

 

O – Peter is reminding me as to whom I am calling on. I am calling on a loving Father who acts and responds to the affairs of men the way a Father responds – impartially, no favouritism, no exclusions an equality and justice that comes from a heart of relationship. Peter wasn’t saying you call on God or a God. He no doubt remembered the significant teaching Jesus gave them all when he taught them how to pray. – Our Father who art in heaven. He then goes on to instruct – don’t let this privilege of access and relationship be diminished with familiarity or be dishonoured. This relationship will determine how we live. While I have access and relationship to a Father, I also live with a reverent fear and understanding of who He is.

 

A – I can never forget or fail to appreciate that I call on a Father. That is my privilege – it is why Jesus died so that I could become part of God’s family. When I call on Him as Father, then I enter into the protection, the affection and confidence of that relationship. This is just not another name for God. My calling on a father takes me beyond just calling out to a generic being, into calling out to a relationship where love and connection is ready to be poured out to me and embraced. The way I live then shows whether I am honouring or dishonouring Him as my Father. I would never think to dishonour my earthly father in any behaviour. How I then need to appreciate the importance of honouring Heavenly Father in the way I live.

 

P – Thank you that I can call upon a Father, not just a generic being who I speak about, but a Father who loves in relationship security and honour.