Where did you come from?

Where did you come from?

 ²⁸ Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! ²⁹ We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” ³⁰ The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.  John 9:28-30

 Lineage is an important part of the Bible.  Just look at the chapters in the book of Numbers and 1 Chronicles that are devoted to all of the begats.  Even the New Testament starts with the generations that preceded the birth of Jesus.  

 On this Father’s day, you may reflect on your own heritage.  With DNA testing abounding, there are numerous companies willing to help you trace your family tree to countries of origin.  I am the 5^th James Rogers, that’s my middle name.  And my son, Micah James, became the 6^th. Thanks to my uncles and aunts who are passionate about genealogy, I have photos of all of those grandpa’s.

 Jesus claimed that God is God of the living not the dead.  When God spoke to Moses, he declared that “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”  Not I was their God.

Regardless of your past heritage, whether you had some “low down scums” in your past or you descended from “distant royalty”, the most important question is “how are you related to God, the Father?”  John 1:9-13 states speaking of Jesus, ^“0 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

 God is a good Father.  He is always present and will never leave you nor forsake you.  He will never embarrass you or act like you are not his child.  He grants wisdom, courage, comfort, direction and love.  He does require obedience and disciplines when correction is needed.  He desires to lavish his love on us that we should be called children of God, for that is what we are. 

 You may not be able to trace your ancestry, you may not even like your family,  but you have the opportunity to be adopted as a child into the family of God. As such, your “Daddy” is the strongest, smartest, lovingest and toughest Dad ever.  That’s where you come from as a child of God.

Whispers, from your Father God - that's not for me

That’s not for me

I spoke a word of correction to you today.  You replied, “that’s not for me”.  You proceeded to tell me

how much good that you have done lately.  You were hoping to convince me that the scales of balance of good works tilted into your favor.  You wanted me to compare your behavior with that of your neighbor.  Surely, you thought that I would see your righteousness is better than the guy next door.  You dismissed my voice quickly, because you thought how well that word is for the other guy in the row behind you. 

I spoke a word of wisdom to you today.  You replied, “that’s not for me”.  From your perspective, your way seemed so much more direct and functional.  You informed me how thankful you are that I had given you a great mind and for this task you really didn’t need me…yet.  You relied on your own reasoning, in which you followed your plan to its intended conclusion…but I was not involved or expected to participate in your journey or task.

I spoke a word of comfort to you today.  You replied, “that’s not for me”.  You laid out your best argument for you deserving all of the pain that you are enduring.  You have told me again and again how unworthy you are because of your sinfulness.  My Son has already endured all the penalties and pain that are demanded from my righteous judgments.  There is no longer any condemnation…do you hear me?

I spoke to you today.  But my voice was unrecognizable in the mist of  the clutter and confusion of life.  “Why, me?”, you question.  “Why do I feel as though I am walking through this life alone?”

My spiritual Q-tip is repentance.  Accept responsibility for rejecting my voice.  Disobedience is directly related to not responding to the words that I have spoken to you, not just “doing something wrong.” Find the place in which you rejected my words to follow your own understanding. Repent for rejecting my counsel and ask to hear clearly again.

Blessed are you for hearing my words and putting them into practice.  Blessed are you for taking time to dialogue with me.  I have so much to share with you, words that will bring you comfort and direction, a hope and a future.  I am here and speaking to you.  I call you by name and I know that you will follow, because you know my voice as a good shepherd.   Include me in ALL of life…because I am speaking to you.

Whispers, from your Father, God