Archive Poster : September 2022

What would your ideal parent be like? This question may feel a bit awkward or even painful to answer, but I invite you to consider it for a moment. If you're anything like me, your character list of the ideal parent might go something like ... caring, gentle, wise, compassionate, capable, stable, fun. Then, if I was really going all out with a wish list I might add powerful, rich and well respected.

Who our parents are have a profound and life long impact on who we are. Putting aside the genetic influence they have over our lives such as skin colour, physical abilities, predispositions to particular health issues, personality etc, who our parents are and how they have treated us is carried with us long after childhood. If your father has been outed as a womaniser you can't help but absorb some of that shame. If your mother is known as a hero in your community you can't deny a feeling of pride. If your father always spoke words of encouragement and love to you, you will probably have a deep sense of value. If your mother gave you up as a baby it may be hard not to feel rejected.

But whoever your parents are, you can still have the perfect parent. The Bible says whoever has faith in Jesus Christ becomes a beloved child of God.

"For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:26

Now let me tell you about this Heavenly Father who can be yours through Jesus - he is kinder than the kindest person you've ever met; he is wiser than the most enlightened person you know, he is more patient and compassionate than Mother Theresa, he is richer than Elon Musk, more powerful than Vladimir Putin and more forgiving than Nelson Mandela.

Now can you imagine this perfect parent wants you to be their child? Really! He gave up his precious son Jesus to pay for your rebellious ways, so, when you trust his son, you too become his precious child. He loves you so much he not only calls you to be his child he transforms you to be like him.

Call on the truly perfect, compassionate, wise, powerful and loving parent and become his child today.

PRAYER: Dear heavenly father, I want to be your precious child. I really want you as my perfect parent. Please forgive my rebellion against you. Help me to trust your son Jesus. And make me more like you. Amen.

© Outreach Media 2022

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