Donald Wickham’s Blog

Here in the USA we celebrate Father’s Day tomorrow (June 21st). We give gifts to our fathers: cards, ties, power tools, etc. It got me to thinking about what gift we can give to our Heavenly Father. Clearly He doesn’t need a new tie or power tool. A common response, almost a cliché, is “give God yourself, that’s all He wants”. I’d like to explore that a little bit differently.

As a father myself, also a grandfather, I’ve come to see this gift giving in another light. More often it is my privilege to give gifts to my children rather than receiving from them. How they respond to my gift is their gift to me.

God’s word says, over and over, that He is offering us the gift of a relationship with Him. He is offering Himself. What are the common responses we have to this gift?

Response # 1: Don’t need it

We say “No thanks, I’ve got it covered. Everything is in control.” Whether out of pride or fear, we keep Father God at arm’s length and go about life on our own. Sometimes it is conscious and overt. More often it is just how we live.

Response # 2: Distrust

The Bible says “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” Yet we distrust the gift that Father God offers. We say “there must be strings attached.” We fear it will cramp our style, restrict us, even hurt us. How this must hurt Father’s heart when all He wants is what’s best for us.

Response # 3: Earn it

Father offers us a gift and we feel we have to repay it or earn it. It’s bad enough that nothing we can do or give would be enough. But what an affront, to reject the gift and turn it into a wage or payment!

Response # 3: Don’t deserve it

The irony on this response is that it’s true. We don’t deserve anything good from Father. We shy away, cowering. Yet, and this is a huge “yet”, He loves us anyway and offers the gift freely.

The Gift

This gift of Father God, this amazing love that He offers:
• Acceptance
• Guidance
• Provision
• Transformation
• Patience
• Fun
• Joy
• Purpose
• Encouragement
• Protection
• Friendship
• Involvement
• Beauty
• Himself

So this Father’s Day, bring joy to His heart. Accept the gift He offers. Trust that it is not only “good” but fantabulous. Revel in His love. I know I am and I’m so grateful.

Tags:   Acceptance · Beauty · Distrust · Don't need it · Don’t deserve · Earn · Encouragement · Father’s Day · Friendship · Fun · giving to God · Guidance · Himself · Involvement · joy · Patience · Protection · Provision · purpose · Transformation1 Comment