공동체와 양육

2010년 2월 14일 예배

2010.02.14Marv Penner

Because our heavenly Father knows us intimately, gives us his presence, disciplines us in love, and restores his wandering children with mercy, we can find in him the satisfaction our father hunger longs for.

Our father hunger points us to the heavenly Father

We all carry a hunger for a strong and caring father, and it can be painful when that longing goes unmet. Even the best earthly father leaves an emptiness that only our heavenly Father can fill. Scripture shows God carrying his people as a father carries his son, as in Deuteronomy 1, and calling himself a father to the fatherless, as in Psalm 68:5. Our hunger leads us to the Abba Father, who loves us with a passion that only a father can have.

Our Abba Father knows us completely and loves us in that knowledge

Our Abba Father knows each of us intimately, including our finances, our marriages, our work, our bodies, and our failures. Love means the most when it comes from someone who knows us fully, and God chooses to love us with that complete knowledge. Romans 8 tells us that we are God's children and heirs with Christ. Psalm 139 shows that he knows when we sit and rise and knows our words before we speak them. If this intimate knowledge fills us with joy, our lives are moving in the right direction; if it fills us with terror, we should examine where we are heading.

God gives us his presence, which we need more than presents

Our Father gives us what we need most, which is his presence, not merely presents. Luke 11 says that if earthly fathers know how to give good gifts, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit. Many of us ask for a new car or a raise, but God knows we need him. Parents often offer stuff in place of time, attention, and emotional connection. A young woman who was about to marry said she would trade a new sports car for one hour of her father's undivided attention. God promises to be present with us.

God's discipline is loving, unlike punishment

God's discipline is not punishment. Punishment aims to inflict pain on the guilty, looks back at the past, and often vents the punisher's emotions. Discipline aims at growth, looks forward to what could be, and seeks restoration. Hebrews 12:7-9 tells us that God disciplines us as his children for our good, so that we may share in his holiness. Though the discipline is painful at the time, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who are trained by it. When we trust his good character, we can lean on his nature through the pain.

Our Abba Father restores his wandering children with mercy

Our Abba Father restores his wandering children with mercy. Grace gives us what we do not deserve, and mercy withholds the punishment we do deserve. Although our wandering should drive God away, he is the one who comes after us. Hosea 11 shows his yearning for Israel, who turned away from him, as he asks how he can give up on Ephraim. Unlike an earthly parent who must begin restoration with an apology, God restores us from his pure goodness. He welcomes us back with open arms.

Apply to Life

  • Let us step toward our Abba Father first and let him satisfy the father hunger in our hearts.
  • Let us trust that he knows every detail of our lives and bring our finances, relationships, and struggles to him.
  • Let us seek his presence above the gifts we want from him.
  • Let us receive his discipline as love for our good and lean on his character in the pain.
  • Let us return to him when we have wandered, knowing that his mercy is ready for us.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

← 영어 예배(English Service) 목록