A Love Letter from Our Heavenly Father?
by OneVike
Posted on 06/21/2009 11:09:33 AM PDT by FredJake
A Love Letter from Our Heavenly Father?
by OneVike
When asked by His disciples to teach them how to pray as the John's disciples prayed, Jesus gave them this prayer as a model. Luke 11:1-2 “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13
When you read the Bible, you are not just reading one book, instead you are reading a compilation of sixty six books. I like to think of them as sixty six love letters from the lover of our soul, our Father in heaven. On this Fathers Day, I would like to present a love letter, from our heavenly Father to us.
My child, you may not know who I am, but I know everything about you. I know when you sit down and when you rise up, and what you are thinking. I am familiar with all your words and your ways, Psalm 139:1-4 I even know how many hairs are upon your head. Matthew 10:29-31 For you were made in My image, Genesis 1:27 and in Me you live, move and have your being. You are My offspring Acts 17:28 whom I knew before you were even conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5 Do not think that you were a mistake or made by chance, because I personally knitted you together in your mother's womb so that you would be fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:13-16 On the day of your birth when I brought you forth, Psalm 71:6 I not only knew the exact time of your birth and where you will live, Acts 17:26 but I also know when you will die. Job 14:5 & Ecclesiastes 3:1
Those who do not know Me have misrepresented Me, John 8:41-44 but let Me assure you that I am neither distant nor angry. Fact is, I am the complete expression of love, 1 John 4:16 and it is My desire to bestow My love upon you. I do this simply because you are My child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1 And because I am perfect, Matthew 5:48 I can offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11
I am the One who provides all your needs, Matthew 6:31-33 all the good gifts that you receive come from My hand. James 1:17 My plan for your future has always been filled with hope, Jeremiah 29:11 because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 My thoughts toward you are countless as the sands on the seashore, Psalms 139:17-18 and I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 While showing you great and marvelous things Jeremiah 33:3 I will never cease from doing good to you, Jeremiah 32:40 because you are My treasured possession. Exodus 19:5 If you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me. Deuteronomy 4:29 Delight in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart, Psalm 37:4 because it is I who gave those desires to you. Philippians 2:13 I am your greatest encourager 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 and I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18 Like a shepherd who carries a lamb, I will carry you during your times of and frailty and hold you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11 Then one day soon, I will wipe away every tear from your eyes Revelation 21:3-4 and take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4 As I said, I am your Father, and I love you even as I love My own Son Jesus, John 17:23 in whom My love for you is revealed. John 17:26
You see, My Son is the exact representation of My being, Hebrews 1:3 and He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31 He also assured you that if you believe in Him I will not count your sins against you. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 because He would pay the price for all the people. John 1:49-51 My child, I love you so much that I do not wish to condemn you but instead I gave My only Son for you, John 3:16-17 so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His death is sufficient to cover all your sins, 1 John 4:10 and if you accept, and receive My Son, then you shall also receive Me. 1 John 2:23
It is my promise that nothing will ever separate you from My love again, Romans 8:38-39 and that the good work I began in you, I will perform it until the day My Son returns. So come home to Me now, and I will throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7 I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15 My question to you is, “Will you be My child?” John 1:12-13 Come, I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32
I pray that those who have ears to hear will hear His voice and call upon the name of the lord Jesus Christ.
Amen
A Love Letter from Our Heavenly Father?..
That’s what the Bible is to us all..
This is what Christianity is really all about...
Listen and watch and be blessed today...
Thank you - that’s indeed the Lord’s Prayer.
Thanks for the ping!
Thank you for posting this. I know it is for Father’s Day but I was comforted to read it. It’s an affirmation of the Lord’s love. I really liked it!
A loving Father must be asked not to lead his children into temptation? Gees!
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Thanks for the ping. Both my Father and step-father have passed away. This was a nice lift of Father’s Day.
Beautiful! Many thanks.
In more straightforward terms this could be clarified as “lead us away from (or safely past) temptation” and/or “spare us trials of temptation.” Jesus wasn’t excused from such trials, although being God, He passed all the trials perfectly. The literary term for this construction is “litotes” which is an affirmation made by stating the negation of its opposite.
Happy Fathers’ Day.
Thanks for the ping. Happy Fathers Day.
Let's see (Mat 6:13) και [and] μη εισενεγκης [do not bring] ημας [us] εις [into] πειρασμον [temptation] αλλα [but] ρυσαι [rescue] ημας [us] απο [from] του [the] πονηρου [evil/crafty (one)]
It's asking God not to bring us into temptation (remember, God doesn't tempt but he can cause someone to be tempted, as with Job, and Jesus). Also, in the OT, God sends deceiving spirits precisely for that reason. Jesus' prayer is in harmony with Judaism in which God is known to bring people into temptation. So, I am not buying the "litotes" explanation. Regardless, as Is aid before, a loving father would never tempt his children.
Litotes: do not bring us into => bring us out of
Perfectly logical.
If you take it out of context, yes. But, in context, the verse is clearly intended to contrast the "but deliver us from the evil one."
The contrast was intentional. Otherwise it would simply read: "keep us out of temptation" and the deliverance from the evil one would be redundant.
As is, the prayer implores God not to deliver us to the devil to be tempted, but to rescue us from him. Again, in the context of the OT, this makes perfect sense because the OT God definitely delivers people, even someone as blameless as Job (not to mention Jesus!), to be tempted and even sends evil spirits.
The problem arises in the Christian mindset, where this is uncharacteristic of the Christian God dealing with his children, so someone came up with the litotes rationalization.
“Our Father...” A good ol’ Hebrew prayer.
A beautiful letter, and I think all people should know that our father in heaven does love us.
Jesus warned that what he said would throw those who refuse to believe. That’s happening right here and now, to you.
LOL! What audacity, self-rigteousness and what ad hominem! When all else fails, threats are in order, right? LOL!
Jesus was perfectly correct to make ad hominem remarks because He was God. May God be audacious forever and never cede His righteousness to unrepentant sinners.
The answer to many surface conundrums in the scriptures is along the same vein. Sometimes, multiple readings can apply to multiple situations, like looking at a hologram. Even the Son who was loved by the Father was not spared trials of would-be temptations. If you have a problem with that, your concept of love is too shriveled and nearsighted. Litotes is not the only answer in this case, but it is one answer.
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