(1) Our Heavenly Father Who Works Diligently
Most of my brethren in the world seem to think that our heavenly Father is a God who does nothing Himself, but is always in a state of idle inactivity on His throne, requiring of all angels and men glory, praise and reverence. He is also looked upon as a stern, harsh and mean tyrant, who searches for the faults and wrong doings of sinners in order to punish them. But this is a most grievous misunderstanding and perversion.
Let us now listen to the testimony of our Eldest Brother, Jesus Christ, the very Son of the God who has been with Him from eternity and from the beginning of the foundation of the world.
It is written, the Lord Started [His works of old... while as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, or the primeval dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there when He drew a circle on the face of the deep when He established the clouds above, when He strengthened the foundations of the deep, when He assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters would not transgress His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside Him as a master craftsman and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him] (Pro. 8:22, 26-30).
[My Father has been working until now, and I have been working ... Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner] (John 5:17, 19). [I can of Myself do nothing] (John 5:30).
Truly our heavenly Father has been working diligently for all His children in the universe since the beginning of the world and will never cease His work and service. He never becomes tired or weary. [Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth neither faints nor is weary. There is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength] (Isa. 40:28, 29). [But I am the Lord your God, who divided the sea whose waves roared - the Lord of hosts is His name] (Isa. 51:15).
(2) Our Heavenly Father Who Supplies the Needs
Jesus specifically tells us of the works of His Father in detail. [Look at the birds of the air; for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them ... Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these] for He clothed them so beautifully ... [God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven] (Matt. 6:26, 28-30). Moreover, [who provides food for the raven when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?] (Job 38:41). Your Father, your heavenly Father feeds them.
[Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions when they crouch in their dens (in hunger)?] (Job 38:39, 40). Your Father also feeds them.
He [covers the heavens with clouds, (He) prepares rain for the earth, (He) makes grass to grow on the mountains] (Ps. 147:8). And He [causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of man] (Ps. 104:14).
And [this great and wide sea in which are innumerable teeming things ... both small and great ... these all wait for You ... what Your give them they gather in, You open Your hand, they filled with good] (Ps. 104:25-28).
[In this manner therefore pray: Our Father in heaven ... Give us today our daily bread.] And He will give [to all liberally and without reproach] (Matt. 6:9-13, James 1:5). [The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open your hand, and satisfy the desires of every living thing] (Ps. 145:15, 16).
[O Lord, how manifold are Your works!] (Ps 104:24). No one can count or number them.
(3) Our Real Father Who Takes Unceasing Care of Us
[Then Jesus said to them again, `Peace be unto you'] (John 20:21).
[Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows] (Matt. 10:29-31).
[Now if God so clothes the grass of the field] with such tender love [which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you] (Matt. 6:30) whom He has Himself begotten and brought up with such great love? [O you of little faith ... do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things] (Luke 12:28-30) and provided them for you.
[But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things (food, clothing, a home, treasures) shall be added to you] (Matt. 6:33).
[Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever] (1 John 2:15-17). Therefore [having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
[As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him.] [As one whom his mother comforts, so [He] will comfort you.] He will [satisfy your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's] (Ps. 103:13, Isa. 66:13, Ps. 103:3, 5).
[He is not far from each one of us, for in Him we live and move and have our being ... for we are also His offspring] (Acts 17:27, 28).
Our Father in heaven is the source of life, of wisdom and of joy. Look at the wonderful and beautiful things of nature, think of their marvelous adaptation to the needs and happiness, not only of man, but of all living creatures. The sunshine and the rain that gladden and refresh the earth, the hills and seas and plains, all speak to us of the love of the Creator, our heavenly Father. It is God who supplies the daily needs of all His creatures.
[God is love] is written upon every opening bud, upon every spire of springing grass. The lovely birds making the air vocal with happy songs, the delicately tinted flowers in their perfection perfuming the air, the lofty trees of the forest with their rich foliage of living green - all testify to the tender, fatherly care of our God and to His desire in making His children happy.
Moreover, His power is revealed on the pulsation of the heart, on the movement of the lungs, and on the thousands of blood vessels of every organ in the whole body. Every passing moment of our existence and well-being we owe to Him. He takes care of us with greater pity than that of a mother hugging her baby groaning in sickness. His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them.
There is not a sigh breathed, not a pain felt, nor a grief piercing our souls that does not vibrate to His heart.
There is no family head as faithful, devoted, loving and kind as our heavenly Father in this whole world. He is also the most tender Caretaker of our universal family. Unlimited is His love for us.
[But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me my Lord has forgotten me. Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me'] (Isa. 49:14-16).
You [who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb: Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear: even I will carry, and will deliver you] (Isa. 46:3, 4).
Praise the Lord! Glory to our Father who takes unceasing care of us! Praise the Lord!
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