Luke 15:20-24
“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.”
INSIGHT
-The Hebrew word for father is av which simply means dad. As we celebrate father’s day, let us always remember that we have a merciful Father who art in heaven and He cares for us. The prodigal received his inheritance, journeyed abroad and spent it all in prodigal living. He fed with pigs and lived a desolate life when he came to his senses. He decided to go back home and ask for forgiveness from his father and at least get a decent meal. When he got home, his father saw him from a far distance, ran to him and embraced him, put on the best robe on him, a ring, sandals on his feet and slaughtered for him a fattened calf. Like God our Father, we too are called to forgive all those who wrong or fail us and we too will be forgiven. Many people like in bitterness for the past sins of their children, relatives, friends and other people and have refused completely to forgive them. God calls us to forgive everyone who has trespassed against us and to love our enemies. Further, like the lost son, the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin demonstrate the importance of one sinner who needs repentance that ninety nine who need no repentance. Also, that there is much rejoicing in heaven among the angels over that one sinner who repents, and we are all called to repentance. God is full of love and mercy as demonstrated by this parable and calls us to go to His throne of grace where we will find mercy and grace to be help us at our point of need.
PRAYER
God our Father Your are full of mercy and love, thank You for loving us. We thank You for Your mercy and love upon our lives, families and nation. We humbly come to Your throne of grace seeking Your mercy and grace to help us at our point of need. Forgive us our sins merciful Father for the many times we have sinned against heaven and help us forgive all those who have trespassed against us. Wash us with Your precious blood Jesus and fill our hearts always with the joy of Your salvation. Fill us with Your love and help us to love one another unconditionally. You are our eternal God and there none like You. Your kingdom is everlasting and Your gracious splendor reflect Your honor and majesty. Only You are Holy, only You are worthy Father, renew our minds and help us to seek You and follow You diligently. Your praises will always be on our lips, we praise You and adore You for only You deserve our praises and adoration. Reconciliation us always to Yourself Father and all those who are lost with Your salvation that we may rejoice together with You until we come to Your everlasting kingdom. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen
Romans 8:13-17
“For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
INSIGHT
-Like a father who corrects his children seeking the best to come out of them, our Heavenly Father corrects the ones He loves and scourges every son whom He receives (Hebrews 12:6). If then we have received the chastening of our Father as His beloved children, let us not despise the chastening of the Lord and not be discouraged when we are rebuked by Him. King Saul was ordered by the Lord to go and attack Amalek and destroy everyone and everything that they have. Saul did as the Lord commanded but spared the king Agag and the best of their livestock to sacrifice them to God. But God rejected him saying that obedience is better that sacrifice, rebellion is a sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry (1 Samuel 15:1-23). Unlike king Saul, Jesus was obedient to God our Father unto death on the cross and accomplished His mission in the redemption of the world. Let us therefore not suppress the truth in wickedness but be diligent by seeking His will in righteousness through faith. God has made known to us His will throughout the scriptures, divine revelations and His Holy Spirit who dwells in us and not in buildings made by human hands. Let us then put away all forms of evil and maintain a clean conscience for which we have been called and will be justified through grace. God has given us His Spirit who lives in us and gives us life, and if we are led by the Spirit of God we are children of God as we cry Abba Father. By this then we are dead to sin and alive in righteousness through sonship, as the son does what He sees the Father do. If then we are children of the King, are kings and priests and are called to rule on the earth as we dwell in love. Further, that we have been given the gift of eternal life from God our Father and will inherit His heavenly kingdom, and live with Him forever.
PRAYER
Thank You Abba Father for this far that You brought us and for the gift of eternal life through Your beloved Son Jesus Christ. Only know our thoughts and hearts desires, answer all our prayers and hearts desires according to Your divine will. Your justice is pure and true in all the earth, judge us severely and correct us ruthlessly, so that we may serve You more perfectly. Fill us with Your wisdom and discernment, grace and truth, humility and forgiveness, faith and wise council, love and compassion, knowledge and understanding, favor and the fear of You that we may see Your face now and at the end of time. Justify us through our faith in You and may we benefit from the grace which we have to receive through Your beloved Son Jesus Christ. Help us to overcome the world with Your love Lord. Help us to bear much more fruit with the gifts that You have entrusted to us Your children. Help us to be committed to the purpose for which You have called us and run the race by which You have called us with diligence. Help us to finish our course in truth and in accordance all You have written in our books in heaven. May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven dear Father. May the blessings of Abraham overtake us and our descendants according to Your divine purposes. Thank You for Your love which You have poured into our hearts through Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for You have justified us through Your Son Jesus Christ and have made us Your children and joint heirs with Him. Lead us Holy Spirit in all things and help us to seek You always and see You for who You are. Thank You for Your gift eternal life and for the Helper in our hearts Who will raise us up at the last day and we will rejoice with You forever and ever. Amen
1 John 4:7-11
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
INSIGHT
-A lawyer approached Jesus and asked Him what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responded by asking what is written in the law and he said, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). Then Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan, to demonstrate what love for God and neighbor means. If we claim to love God yet hate our brothers and sister we are liars. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen (1 John 4:20). God also calls us to visit the orphans and widows in their distress and remain un-spotted in the world, for He is a Father to the fatherless and a defender of widows (Psalms 68:5). God is love and He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Love was there before the foundations of the world and love will be there after the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Love is permanent and it never fails and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. If then we love, we have eternal life in Him and all things work for good for us who love God and as we are called according to His purpose.
PRAYER
Lord for You are good and Your love endures forever. Thank You Father for sending Your only begotten Son Jesus for the sake our salvation, cover us with Your precious blood and heal all our wounds. You are the same yesterday, today and forever, we give You all the glory and praise. Lord You are a Father to fatherless and a husband to the widows, have mercy on us all and on the whole world. Give us hearts of compassion Lord so that we may help widows, orphans and the homeless as You have called each one of us, for the glory of Your name. Help us to love those whom You love Father and abide in Your love forever. We know that You have called us according to Your purpose Lord, and all things work for good for us because You have filled us with Your love and have enabled us to love You and our neighbors, for the glory of Your name. Fill us with Your gifts and fruit and enable us to serve You better each day. You are the Vine and we are Your branches, help us to bear much fruit, for without You we can do nothing and without love we can accomplish no good. Help us to see with Your eyes, hear with Your ears and understand with Your heart Lord, for You abide in us and us in You. Amen
Daniel 7:9-10
“As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.”
INSIGHT
-Daniel narrates his vision which describes our Father, the Ancient of Days. He saw God the Righteous Judge in the court, books were opened and multitudes worshiped Him. In this vision Daniel reveals the depth of the riches of God, both of the wisdom and knowledge. His judgments are unsearchable and His ways no one can fully comprehend. “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor? who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?” (Romans 11:33-35). God is full of wisdom and our wisdom is foolishness to Him. He created the heavens and the earth and everything belongs to Him. He is our Righteousness Judge, His reign is everlasting and His righteousness endures to all generations. His wisdom is unsearchable and His His authority is eternal. We are called to do everything for the glory of His name. He was there before the foundations of the world and will be there forevermore. God is Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent, and His reign has no end. To Moses, God introduced Himself as I AM WHO I AM, and He was, He is and He is to come. God is the Father of our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Like Abraham who believed in Him and it was accounted to Him for righteousness, we too are called to believe in Him disregarding and form of confusion, delay or challenges that come our way. Fear creeps in when we trust in our own abilities and trust in our own strength. But God calls us to trust in Him with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding; to submit to him in all our ways, and He will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). God blessed Abraham and multiplied Him according to His word. Gods promises are yes and amen and nothing is hard for Him. God says hold on to My promises and hold on to faith as small as a mustered seed and we will move mountains. Sarah, Rachel, Hannah and Elizabeth were barren and God gave them offspring. If what we are going through seems impossible, God is a Father of the impossible. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we can think or imagine and we are called to wait on Him in all things.
PRAYER
God You are good and Your mercies endures forever. Father You are good and Your righteousness endures to all generations. You are our great I AM, great High Priest, Ancient of Days and Sure Foundation, none can be compared to You. May we decrease as you increase holy God for only You deserve all our praises. You made the heavens and the earth and everything belongs to You. The heaven and the highest heavens belong to You Father, the earth and all that is in it. The heavens are Yours Father and the earth also is Yours. The world and all it contains, You have founded them. All glory and honor, authority and strength belongs to You God our Father. We put all our trust in You Lord, we exult Your name in all the earth. Despite the challenges and tribulations that we are going through, we glorify and praise Your holy name. Make a way Lord where there seems to be no way we humbly ask You Father. Deliver us from all fears and troubles for we are more than conquerors in You Lord. Fight for us Righteous Judge for only Your judgments are true and right. We call on Your name Lord deliver us from all forms of barrenness and save us. We are inscribed in Your hands Father, who can be against us. Reveal Your promises in our lives, families and nation dear Father for Your promises are yes and amen. Holy holy holy are You Lord God almighty, Who was, Who is and Who is to come. All glory, honor, power, praise and adoration belongs to You Lord, now and forever. Amen
John 3:35-36
“The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
INSIGHT
-The Father loves the Son and has given Him authority over all things. He who believes in the Son, believes in the Father and has everlasting life, but he who does not believe in the Son is condemned. “The Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him” (John 5:22-23). As we honor God, we are called to respect Him, fear Him and obey His word which is love. We are also called to obey our father and mother which has a promise of long life, and since God is our Father; we should honor Him. We also read in John 14:21 that, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” If we honor God we should believe in Him and keep His commandments through love. Love rejoices in truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love never fails, and if we love we have eternal life.
SUMMARY
God our Father is merciful and full of love. He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all things belong to Him. He is Omnipotent, Omniscience and Omnipresent, and His Kingdom has no end. His ways are just and true and calls us to obey His voice. God is gracious and faithful and full of kindness. His love for us endures forever and His kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom. If we love then we abide in God and Him in us. We should endeavor to have a relationship with God our Father built on love and the fear of Him. A personal relationship with God must be built on love for without love we can do nothing. If we love our neighbor who we see then we show love for God and His love remains a pillar of eternal life in us. Through His great love God has made us His children through His beloved Son Jesus Christ, that we may believe in Him and be saved. We are reminded to humble ourselves before God, repent our sins and receive His grace. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are co-heirs with Him and the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are His children and thus kings and priests, and are called to rule on earth by bearing much fruit that remains. We should then hold fast love, for God is love and love never fails.
PRAYER
Thank You for loving us merciful Father. Your love for us is everlasting and Your kingdom has no end. Your precepts are true and there is no deception in them. Your wisdom is perfect and mercy for us is has no limit. Your judgments are true and Your ways a reflection of perfect light. Fill us with Your wisdom merciful Father that we may always hear Your word and keep it. May Your gospel Father reach to all nations and Your salvation fill all Your people. May Your Light in us reach many people who see it and receive Your salvation. Fill our hearts with Your living water that we may never thirst merciful Father. May Your grace, mercy and peace Lord our Father be with us always, our families, nation and the entire world. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen