Well Marcus Welby...Father Knows Best!

And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Matt 23: 9    

You know you are getting older when you reference TV shows that aren't even played
anymore on the 'Old TV' Cable Networks! I thought of Robert Young and the rolls he
played, especially pertaining to the idea that 'father knows best.'

You remember, don't you, when your parent angered you by answering the universal
child question.."Why?" with, "Because I told you so!" Debates with parents, especially
when a child is young, are really meaningless and probably cause this type of
parental response. Obviously, there are a myriad of things that older folks know
in terms of what is best for their children. I am going to suggest that God, our
Father, knows at all times what is best for His children...us!

He knows, for example, the difference between 'What we want,' and 'What we need!'
What an important distinction. Because the Father is sovereign and in control, He may
very well choose to 'give" us something that we didn't ask for or something 'instead of'
what we asked for. Most of us would readily admit that we really don't know what is best
for us a lot of the time. How fortunate we are to have a Father who knows all things.

He knows all that we think, say and do. Not gonna sneak an obtuse, unkind or sinful
thought past this Parent, He is aware. This becomes especially important in our
daily battle against our sinful nature. We can 'use' His complete knowledge of our
nature to lean on when we feel that temptation begin to overtake us. It's a lot like
using our human parents as an excuse..."My dad will tan my hide if he catches me
doing that!" ( I know, I just dated myself, again!)

I think it's probably a natural condition to want to please our parents. We don't
want them to be upset or disappointed in us if at all possible. Well that becomes
magnified when it comes to our Heavenly Father. It's our job to glorify Him by
our actions and behavior... a full time job for sure!

So Father really does know best, and that, it seems to me, is comforting and reassuring!
We LOVE you Father God! Praise be to You, always!

God, if you please....may I please You!

Psalm 19:14
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (NIV)

Alistair Begg's great book, Made For His Pleasure, begins with a wonderful story
about Mr. Begg watching his 8-yr-old son play soccer. He describes the haphazard nature
of the youngsters running about with energy, but without apparent purpose, on the 
soccer pitch. Then, amazingly, his son makes a move and ends up driving the soccer
ball into the net. Alistair's reaction is probably very similar to the one any of us has had
when observing our little one do something successful in any arena...We feel very happy
and pleased for the child! 

It's a classic parent-child happening. We, as parents, want what is best for our children;
we care about their well-being because they are our children. We take a great deal
of pleasure in seeing them happy and successful.

Well, as hard as it might be to imagine, the Majestic God of this Universe, omniscient and
omnipresent, is pleased when His children do and say the things that bring glory to Him. 
When, for example, God becomes aware of something we do that shows our continuing
transformation into someone more like His son, Jesus, He is pleased! When we are able
to pray openly and honestly, seeking Him with confidence and appropriate honor,
He is pleased. When we are able to cast off worldly treasures and desires in order
to do things whose basis is glorifying Jesus, God, because He loves the Son, is pleased!

The bottom line is that now that we have been adopted into the family of God by
the glorious work of Jesus at the cross, we are given purpose in our lives; the purpose
being to do that which glorifies and pleases He who breathed life into us. We aren't
prefect in this goal. We have a wondrous spirit that dwells within, that helps us in
this regard. It is altogether appropriate that we place the desire of pleasing God
at the very top of our priorities. 

We read His word, we pray to praise and glorify Him, we ask Him for what we need
that is in line with His good plans and we love Him with all our energy and passion!

Praise you, Father God!