In my early teen years, I noticed something about my parents that modelled the fatherhood of God. No matter what we did, we are sure that food would not be denied us. My mum would sometimes hide the food from our reach when we get back home. We would go to bed in pretence. She would wake us up to eat and the next day, discipline us.
Friend, God does not use evil or bad stuff to teach you a lesson. IF YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD IS FAULTY, YOUR SONSHIP MANIFESTATION WOULD BE FAULTY. God wants you to know and experience Him as your Father if you would enjoy your sonship. God’s position towards you does not change even when you change your posture towards Him (Luke 15:18-19).
There are three positions that God takes in our lives at different times; THE POSITION OF A FATHER, A FRIEND AND A JUDGE. When God relates as a Father, it is a covenant matter (Isaiah 49:14-16). When He relates as a friend, it is intimacy (Genesis 18:17-19, Isaiah 41:8). When He relates as a judge, it is principle (of His word) that plays out (Luke 18:1-8). GOD IS COVENANTLY BOUND TO US AS OUR FATHER AND WE ARE FOREVER HIS AS HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS.
We did not make God our Father, He made us His sons (Psalms 2:7, 2 Corinthians 6:18). There is nothing we will ever do that will change His fatherhood but it can affect our sonship. WE CAN KEEP FEEDING WITH SWINE WITHOUT REALIZING THAT A BANQUET IS WAITING FOR US AT HOME (Luke 15:15-24). While the prodigal son had rehearsed his carefully crafted script of repentance, the father was already waiting to embrace him.
To think that God will deny you things that pertain to life and godliness because of what you do is to be listening to the devil somewhere (Luke 11:11, 2 Peter 1:3). God does not default in His fatherhood role over us no matter what we do (2 Timothy 2:13). HE DOES NOT CEASE TO BE OUR FATHER, ONLY THAT WE MAY NOT WANT TO COME TO HIM AS SONS THAT WE ARE.
God does not use sickness, affliction, lack etc. to teach you a lesson. When God disciplines us, He does so via His word, His Spirit and His assigned human agents (2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 12:5-11). It is for our profit, not loss. He does so with the intent that we can get better, not bitter. WHEN YOU THINK THAT GOD IS THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR PROBLEM, YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO APPROACH HIM FOR HELP.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria