“Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:14–17 New International Version)
H H H
How we see God has more to do with our personal history than with the reality of God.
We know that:
l We do not see things as they are, but as we are. (Talmuidic Proverb)
l Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
l My finger print is on all I see.
l Two men look out the same prison bars, one saw mud, the other saw stars. (Frederick Langbridge) Same prison. Same bars. Same stars. Same mud. Different men.
Steven Covey’s now classic story of the commuter being annoyed by a family of kids bouncing off the windows and train seats is well known. When the communter asked the sad father of the children to get them to behave, the father replied, “I will try but their mother just died in the hospital and we are all pretty stressed right now.” Suddenly the commuter’s
perception of the situation changed from anger to compassion.
In 1980, Herbert Montgomery left his wife, Sandy, and his four year son, Herb, for another women. Herbert never contacted his son Herb even though he lived 10 houses down the same side of the street. No festive or birthday cards, no gifts, nothing. Herb grew up believing his father was jerk. His opinion of his father was largely determined by his mother’s fury towards Herbert Montgomery. It was understandable, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” Herb, as with every child, longed to know his father and made an attempt to get to know him when he was 14 years of age but it did not work.
When Herb was nineteen he asked Crystal, his girlfriend of three years, to marry him. She refused to do so before he fixed his relationship with his father.
Herb made a determined effort to develop this relationship so he could marry Crystal. They married and when Herb was 23 while they were visiting his father, Crystal confronted father Herbert about his lack of relationship with his son for 15 years.
Herbert Montgomery showed them the cancelled child support cheques he had sent faithfully every month, sometimes for far more than the State required.
He also showed them the cards and the gifts that had been returned over the years by Sandy, his mother. In a moment, the relationship that Herb and Herbert had longed for over 19 years was realized. It was no longer a forced relationship for Herb but one of devotion and love for he had discovered the truth about his father. For almost two decades his father had longed for the truth to be known about how he loved his son.
Herb and Herbert lived happily today in Lewisburg, W. Va, where Herb had been born. The truth about Herbert Montgomery set Herb free to be loved and to love.
It is so. The truth about God sets me free to be loved and to love my Creator and Redeemer and those around me. It was this truth that Jesus Christ came to share with us.
Shalom Counseling functions as Crystal did. They ask the right questions to help us see ourselves as God sees us. When we get it, we get the reality of the people around us. So let me join Shalom in their ministry for a few minutes.
Let the apostle Paul influence the way you are from Romans 8:14-17.
You are a unique.
l You have something to offer that no one else can offer in this world. I will listen to you.
l You are a creation of God not the result of cosmic dice.
lYou are made in the image of God
l God is love.
l You are made for love. To be loved and to love.
l God made you to love you. Like good parents make children to love them!
l God has rescued you from the certain doom which is a result of sin.
l You are not a pardoned criminal but an adopted son or daughter.
l You are a joint heir with Christ.
l All that Christ inherited at his ascension you will also inherit at your ascension.
l You will sit with him on the royal throne.
l You will minister to the limitless universe.
l You are of royal blood.
lYou can practice thinking and feeling as part of the Royal Family.
What are you waiting for? Today is the day to change the way you see God and in so doing you will forever change the way you see yourself and those around you.
By the way, that Aramaic word “Abba” means Daddy.
That diminutive term of affection we use as children is there to tell us about how we can feel about our divine father.
Ian Hartley is pastor at Seventh-day Adventist Church in Red Deer. He and other members of the Red Deer Ministerial Association share their personal views on Sundays and Mondays in Red Deer LIFE and Central Alberta LIFE, and encourage comments and questions from readers. These can be sent to LIFE.