Who’s Your Daddy?

{originally published in 2013}   The “Who’s Your Daddy?” message that I share from the platform is by far my favorite one to deliver. I think it’s because I’ve discovered that everything in life hinges on the answer to that question. During my early years as a Christian I thought I believed in God’s love. However, over time I discovered that I had allowed Jesus to become my Savior, but I wouldn’t let Him be my Daddy. It was too risky. Long ago I built a strong tower of protection around my heart to avoid pain, abandonment and rejection.  Therefore, I wouldn’t allow anyone to love me deeply—including God. Instead, I did all the right “things.” I went to Bible study, sang on the worship team, taught adult Sunday school, and shared the gospel with my co-workers. Fortunately, God loves me too much to leave me on the performance treadmill. He allowed a series of difficult circumstances to test my faith, and this revealed an ugly truth lurking deep inside. I believed that God loved me because it was his job description, not because He found anything worthy to love. This realization and the journey that followed changed my life. When I allowed my Heavenly Daddy’s lavish love into my heart, I finally found the life I was desperately seeking. I discovered that a person’s perception of God affects every area of life. Every decision made, every relationship, even what they see in the mirror is determined by their view of God. Bob George in his book Growing In Grace explains it this way, “Our relationship to God carries over directly into our human relationships. We will ultimately treat others in exactly the same way we think God treats us.” Here are a few questions to help clarify your perception of God.  

• Do I believe I am loved by God?

During childhood if one or both of your earthly parents was abusive, absent, controlling, demanding, or overly critical it may be difficult to regard your Heavenly Father as attentive or loving. Here is God’s view, “For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,” Isaiah 43:3-4 (NIV)  

• Do I believe God delights in me?

What does God see when He looks at you? Did you know that you make him smile and sing? It’s true. “The Lord your God takes great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing,” Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV). He enjoys looking at you so much that that He has engraved your image upon his hand, “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands,” Isaiah 49:16a (NIV).  

• Do I believe God will never stop loving me?

Whether you feel loved does not determine whether you are loved. “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!” Jeremiah 31:3 (MSG). You have value and are loveable because God says so. Period. Even when God does not like your poor choices, and He allows you to suffer a consequence, He will not stop loving you. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever and his faithfulness continues to each generation, Psalm 100:5 (NLT).  

• Do I believe my value is determined by the price God paid for me?

What are you worth? How would you determine your ransom? Your value is not determined by what other people think of you, but rather by the price tag God paid to purchase you. He gave his own life. All because He believes you are worth saving.  This is love…that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. I John 4:10 (NIV)  

• Do I believe God is faithful and will not abandon me?

People often reject and wound us. That’s why it’s easy to assume God will do the same. But God explains that He doesn’t love in the same manner as people. He even fills in the gap when those who are supposed to love us unconditionally walk away. “My father and mother walked out and left me, but God took me in,” Psalm 27:10 (MSG)   When we embrace our Heavenly Daddy’s lavish love it fills us with dignity, peace and purpose. When a person doesn’t know the Heavenly Pap, he or she will look to a: spouse, job, child, possession, drug, church or anything else to fill the void. But He is the only source capable to completely love our soul and fill our every longing. Trust Him.