​We read the story of Abraham and can’t help but chuckle at some of his bizarre decisions. He gives up his wife, saying she is his sister, to the Pharaoh of Egypt. He decides he will help God to give him a child by taking his wife’s maidservant as a wife. Again, Abraham gives up his wife to another king calling her his sister. (And creepy enough, Sarah was his half-sister!) 

And yet, the writer of Hebrews exalts him.

​There is a lesson in the way the story of Abraham is recalled. They don’t recall his failures but instead recall his success. It’s a given that men will fail. We often can’t get out of our own way… we trip ourselves. Abraham was remembered for his faith and even for the right things he did. This is good news for those of us who have botched the plan more than once. We are not remembered by our good Father for all the times we did it wrong, but instead are remembered for all the times that Jesus did it right!

In this we can glean another lesson. Behind all our good and bad deeds is a good Father who is redeeming the world. He intended a world that would reflect his goodness and He is making it so. He is blessing the nations. He is changing hearts, one by one. He is using the very creatures who messed it all up to make it all right again.

On Father’s Day we can be reminded that we have a good Father. His goodness overshadows our shortcomings. As we watch Him clean up our messes time after time, we can learn to praise Him for the redemptive work that He is doing. As we cheer on these works, and marvel at His wisdom, we find ourselves imitating His wonderful ways. We find ourselves being transformed, slowly but surely, into the creatures that He desires.

Happy Father’s Day!

This morning I read Psalms 6-8. I was simply reading to hear God’s voice to my soul. Looking for refreshment and inspiration. Hungering for His presence. One of my distant mentors encourages reading through the Psalms continually.
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I started reading and had a hard time relating to chapters 6 & 7. They were about dealing with an enemy. My life is very easy right now. My only personal enemy seems to be inside my head (the big enemy). I struggle with my lack of a sense of accomplishment. Sometimes I worry that something will go wrong to disturb my comfort :) but I certainly do not relate to an enemy anything like David did. (Ps 6:7)

Then Psalm 8 came along and shifted the conversation. The focus is on God and the majesty of His name. It is a great Psalm of praise to lift our hearts from dismay. As we read, we can find encouragement in His grand design. In that, we are reminded of his purpose for mankind. (Psalm 8:5-6)

I am reminded that we are called to rule the world in a sense. I am also reminded that ruling the world can have a variety of difficulties.

When we have in our hearts a peaceful world where God sits on the throne and all are cared for... then we see the enemy. We see the enemy in stupid decisions, unkindness, utter evil. We see him in hunger, addiction, hopelessness, and loneliness. We must fight against these things.
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When our heart is focused on this mission, then we find ourselves crying out for God’s rescue. (Ps 6:3-4)

​The earth is tormented with the curse. God is a good Father. He desires to redeem us and to restore us. He will do it! Bring Him your heart and bring Him your tears.