God the Father, Part Two
Our Example and Our Provider
24th July 2026
God the Father sets the example in love
King David understood:
Psalm 68v5
Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy
habitation.
Psalm 103v13
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to
those who fear him.
God the Father loves you and me. As the apostle John teaches us:
1 John 3v1
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called
children of God; and so we are.
How blessed we are that God the Father loves us, and we're called to love everybody as the Father loves. Jesus said:
Matthew 5v44-45
"… love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun
rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the
unjust."
So we're called to love the poor and the needy, and we're called to love the wicked and the unlovely, as well as the people we like, because God the Father loves them.
God the Father sets the example in mercy
Jesus said:
Luke 6v36
"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."
How much mercy have you received from God the Father? If you know your sin has been forgiven, then you know that God's mercy to you is extraordinary. We're called to show mercy to others as He has shown mercy to us.
God the Father provides for us
It's God the Father who answers our prayers. Jesus said:
In Matthew 18v19
"… if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for
them by my Father in heaven."
It's God the Father who forgives our sin. We pray to "Our Father in heaven" (Matthew 6v9) saying "Forgive us our trespasses"(Matthew 6v12). Jesus said:
Mark 11v25
"… whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone,
so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
God the Father provides for our needs. Jesus said:
Matthew 6v31-32
"… do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?' or ‘What shall we
drink?' or ‘What shall we wear?'
For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father
knows that you need them all."
And:
Matthew 7v9-11
"… which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?
If you then, who are 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!"
We're so very imperfect. I've never heard an earthly father say that he was really good at being a dad. We know we fail our children. I've let my children down in many ways. I gave them less time, less attention, less understanding, less patience than I should. But I knew how to give them nice things, at least sometimes. God the Father is perfect. He always gives us what we need, when we need it, although that's not always what we want, when we want it. Father knows best.
God the Father rewards us for what we do and how we live on earth. We don't deserve to be rewarded but He does it anyway because He loves us. Jesus said:
Matthew 5v3-4
"… when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right
hand is doing,
so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will
reward you."
Jesus promised us:
Matthew 6v6
"… when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father
who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
Last time, we read Paul's encouragement to us to glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 15v6). He does deserve a church that honours Him, properly, in word and in deed, doesn't He? What a wonderful Father He is!