{"id":28644,"title":"Our Desperate Father - the BELIEVE Blog","description":"As a father, we can learn that part of God\u2019s character from His perspective. Our own creation that we so desperately love, that we would die for, and all we crave is to have friendship with them. We want our children to choose us and to willingly receive our love.","content":"

\"xhyeugkmnjpiazrbpj1dyinvmrbxwfsbfoszei1lgic4szdq.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"\"And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.\"<\/span><\/em> 2 Corinthians 6:18<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>

I am so grateful to have grown up in a christian home. My parents raised me to love God and honour His Word.<\/span><\/p>

With time, I only appreciate my childhood more. What a privilege to grow up without the hardships, regrets and consequences that coming to faith in Jesus as an adult can bring. Furthermore, and even more importantly, I didn\u2019t have to undo misguided preconceptions concerning the character of God.<\/span><\/p>

My earthly father taught me about my Heavenly Father by demonstrating His love and guidance. I thought I had a pretty great understanding of God as a Father but then I became a father myself.<\/span><\/p>

What a change this made! To now be the one who is representing our Lord!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

It was similar to when Rosie and I got married and we began to learn in the dynamic of our marriage the parallels to the relationship of God and us, His bride; living out each and every day what it means to truly love in covenant.<\/span><\/p>

God created the relationships that we have to do exactly this. Parents, siblings, spouses, friends, etc. They all have the purpose of teaching us about God\u2019s nature in application as we coexist with each other.<\/span><\/p>

If anything, being a father has taught me the desperation of God. Yes, that\u2019s right. God is desperate. This is because He limited Himself when he gave Adam the ability to choose: free will.<\/span><\/p>

God, of course, is the father in the story of the Prodigal Son. The father did not go out into the towns where the son was wasting his inheritance. There was no scolding or even a hot meal brought to the son in his time of dire need.<\/span><\/p>

Instead, the father was desperately waiting for the son to choose to come home and receive love of his own accord.<\/span><\/p>

\"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.\"<\/span><\/em> Luke 15:20<\/span><\/p>

My eldest, Jasper, is only six years old so thankfully my wife and I haven\u2019t experienced anything quite like the father in Luke 15. However, countless times, I have had to wait for my son to learn something the hard way, <\/span>desperate<\/span><\/em> for him to come to me for wisdom and comfort.<\/span><\/p>

And so, the Lord, your Father, waits for you. Among many other scriptures, 2 Corinthians 6:18 says that God will be a father to us and we can be His children. All we need do is choose Him.<\/span><\/p>

Jacob Shepherd<\/span><\/p>

CEO & Co-Founder | Revival<\/span><\/p>

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Follow us on instagram - <\/span>https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/revivalforeveryone\/<\/u><\/span><\/a><\/p>","urlTitle":"fathers-day-the-believe-blog","url":"\/blog\/fathers-day-the-believe-blog\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/fathers-day-the-believe-blog\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/revivalforeveryone.com\/blog\/fathers-day-the-believe-blog\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1686661983,"updatedAt":1686771296,"publishedAt":1686771296,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":233745,"name":"Revival"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/wuvpc4lwhq9mu40uvabznthjcsz3edlpvvjx1cvoj3qgekdm.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/wuvpc4lwhq9mu40uvabznthjcsz3edlpvvjx1cvoj3qgekdm.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/wuvpc4lwhq9mu40uvabznthjcsz3edlpvvjx1cvoj3qgekdm.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":37517,"title":"The Will of God - The BELIEVE Blog","url":"\/blog\/the-will-of-god-the-believe-blog\/","urlTitle":"the-will-of-god-the-believe-blog","division":233745,"description":"Have you ever prayed the words, \u201cI just want to know your will for my life\u201d?\n\nListen carefully. If you\u2019re praying this prayer, you\u2019re skipping ahead a couple of steps and leaving God behind. That\u2019s why you feel lost, frustrated and anxious.\n\nAgain, I\u2019ll put my hand up and say that I\u2019m guilty of this one. Multiple times over and even recently too.\n\nRepeat after me: I was not created - to know God\u2019s will. - I was created - to know God.\n\nWhen you start praying, \u201cWhat\u2019s your will for me Lord,\u201d in that desperation you\u2019re probably familiar with, you\u2019ve stopped knowing God, your created purpose, and started prioritising yourself.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/tb0rjeoc0defrksb97uisukn4uhx3u5qpu3vht1lhpjmladt.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/tb0rjeoc0defrksb97uisukn4uhx3u5qpu3vht1lhpjmladt.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":28167,"title":"Truth = Freedom - the BELIEVE Blog","url":"\/blog\/truth-freedom-the-believe-blog\/","urlTitle":"truth-freedom-the-believe-blog","division":233745,"description":"Some of the most powerful words that anyone can understand, saved or not, are in that final statement. Truth = Freedom. Has there ever been a time in our history where lying was fashionable and celebrated? Everywhere we look, there are people who are so deceived yet are encouraged to continue in their deception.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/jcwnepowinw1gwwfvldhqqxowemjhuxqnyfbqzgpwjedsra0.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/jcwnepowinw1gwwfvldhqqxowemjhuxqnyfbqzgpwjedsra0.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":27825,"title":"Name Above All Names - the BELIEVE Blog","url":"\/blog\/name-above-all-names-the-believe-blog\/","urlTitle":"name-above-all-names-the-believe-blog","division":233745,"description":"Yet, Jesus did not come to bring salvation.\n\nBecause His name is still Jesus. He was and is and is to come!\n\nJesus didn\u2019t just bring salvation, dust Himself off and sit at God\u2019s right hand. He is salvation!\n\nAt any point, any one of us can call on the name above all names and receive power and freedom of the Gospel. Acts 16:31","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/fqucjpt5btb1wcixufriq5r3x7p2swlssoodbkknhi9rbbty.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/fqucjpt5btb1wcixufriq5r3x7p2swlssoodbkknhi9rbbty.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}