Considering my son, Jackson, I can’t help but to realize so many illustrations of God’s being our Father. As my son gets more and more confident on his feet and runs here and there, I frequently get so overwhelmed with love for him that I sweep him up into my arms and kiss his face all over. I’ll tickle him and enjoy just wrestling with him right there and then. The positive moments, however, aren’t the only times I sweep Jackson up into my arms. I’ll also do this when he’s made a mistake, to prevent him from continuing in that mistake and incriminating himself any further. As he calms in my arms, I’ll discuss how he has two options, to continue to disobey or to obey and enjoy the boundaries Carrie and I place in his life for his enjoyment and good.

This is so much like our God as our Father and the Holy Spirit as our constant and kind Helper.  Psalm 103:13 says, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.”  Isn’t compassion one of the hallmarks of tender fathering?  Not a permissive or excusing kind of treatment, but a gentle and consistent care and love and attention to the child’s wellbeing.  How wonderful that God’s arms wrap us up and He so tenderly speaks His kindness and compassionate counsel to us no matter the situation.

My prayer for our local church and yours is that we would be absorbed in the love of the Father this week, caught up in the peaceful fruit of righteousness as provided to us because of the death of Jesus for us all.  To close out this post, I want to highlight a song that has ministered to me through the years regarding trust in God and honoring Him with our praise as a thank you to Him for all He has done for us and has yet to be done for our good and His glory.  And, He will finish the work He has set out to do in and through each of us and in and through all of us as His children.

Take a minute to listen to this song from my dear friend, Zach Jones – Bless the Lord – Psalm 103.

Here are the lyrics:

VERSE 1
Bless the Lord
O my soul
And all that’s within me praise Him
Bless the Lord
O my soul
And forget not all He’s done
He forgives all your iniquities
And He heals all your infirmities
He redeems your life from the pit
And crowns you with mercy

CHORUS
As far as the east is from the west
So far have You taken our sins from us
And as high as the heavens are over the earth
So great is Your steadfast love toward us

VERSE 2
Bless the Lord
O my soul
And all that’s within me praise Him
Bless the Lord
O my soul
And forget not who He is
As a father shows compassion
To his beloved children
So the Lord shows compassion to us
To those who fear Him