Hello friends, welcome to Embolden. I'm Chris Shatter, an ordinary Christian living with and learning about an extraordinary God. Can you believe it? We're on day 25 of 30 Days of Giving Glory to God here on the Embolden Podcast.
We're starting with Ephesians 1, 11 through 2. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him, who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. Join me in this short prayer. Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Amen. A while back I was listening to a podcast that broke down how and what to pray. They started with what we call the Lord's Prayer, which is in Luke 6, 9 through 16, the beginning of which was my prayer for today. They looked at the use of the word Father.
Our Christian faith is so unique in this view of our most holy God. We don't pray to some mysterious, unattached, non-relational being. In fact, one of Jesus' missions while on earth was to show believers this new relationship, that of a loving Father. I have read other people change the word Father to Daddy, but that seems to go a bit far as the pastors on the podcast also agreed.
It's almost too familiar without the reverence God deserves. All others who have been terribly hurt by fathers or father figures may go to great lengths to dismiss even using a father reference at all. But God, He's always seeking to realign us with His kingdom, not the world of sin. Jesus draws us into this new relationship showing us what God's glorious Eden will look like when we arrive, and it's full of love and kindness, grace and forgiveness.
Luke 15 20 says, So He got up and went to His Father, 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 through His arms around Him and kissed Him. You know, I'm not sure if there's any better story in the Bible to describe God's role as Father to His adopted children than the one told of the prodigal Son here in Luke 15. When I heard a pastor speak on it once, especially verse 20, it transformed me.
You see, the Father didn't meet His Son halfway. He didn't make Him come all the way to the house. He didn't even first require repentance or repayment. It says, while He, the Son, was a long way off.
When word came, probably from the people in the outskirts of town, that this wayward Son was coming home, His Father lifted up His tunics so He could run. He ran to His Son, filled with compassion and love. God seeks us. He yearns for us to believe without meeting us at all.
How beautiful and glorious is that? I recently read in a study that we aren't all God's children. Yes, you read that right. We are all made in the image of God, but we can't all call Him Father.
We must at least start that journey back to Him as the prodigal Son gave. He realized He needed the protection and blessings of His Father. Friend, the day we told God, I believe in You, and I believe You sent Your Son to set me free of my sins. We received our adoption papers.
He wrote us into the will for His inheritance. And whatever type of Father you've had on this earth hails in comparison to the one who has adopted You into His heavenly Kingdom. I, for one, count that the most glorious blessing of all. Have a great day.
I hope you enjoyed this episode of The Abolden Podcast. Be sure to follow along so you don't miss any episode. And check out my blog at embolden.net.