Trust Him as Your Loving Father

When I was young, my earthly father lovingly reproved me whenever I misbehaved. Every time he disciplined me, though, he hugged me afterward. As much as I didn’t want to hug him, I will never forget putting my head on his shoulder and spilling out my tears. He always said to me, “I love you, David. God has his hand on you, and I’m not going to let the devil have you.” 

Likewise, in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, we hear a loving rebuke from our heavenly Father. He warns us to get as far away from sin and the world as possible and run from evil. 

“Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18, NKJV).

God tells us, “I have chosen to be your Father and will not share my role with the devil. If you are going to mix with the world or hold on to some unclean thing in your life, our fellowship will not work. If I am going to be your one-and-only Father, you must forsake the world and its pleasures and lay down your sin. You cannot keep any filthy thing in your life.” 

He says further, “I want to lead and guide you. I want to favor you as only I can favor my children. Therefore, I will not permit you to come to me with hands that have been touching any unclean thing. Separate from all that, and I will receive you as a son and daughter. I long to be a Father to you!”

If you want to follow Jesus, don’t come to him halfway. Come all the way out of the world. Your Father says, “If you trust me as your Father to deliver you, I will send the Holy Ghost and give you power and authority. I will give you hope while you’re in the struggle and I will bring you through.”