“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named...” Ephesians 3:14-15
Amplified adds ~ [that Father from whom all Fatherhood takes its title and derives its name]
The word family is taken from the word for Father. In the Greek, there is only one letter difference between family “patria” and “pater” father. Our Father in heaven has become the source and origin for the name Father being expressed in family.
Family has its origin in God as the standard for all Fatherhood. He created family.
Complete Jewish Bible reads: “From whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its character”
On the National day of prayer held for Canada online yesterday, one of the things that caught my heart was the recurring prayer over families.
An unexpected impact of this virus, where we can see God working for good, is the knitting of families. We have been reading scores of tweets about people forced to stay home and as expected, there have been a wide range of comments, from downright sad to the wonderful. Where homes have been fractured through family eroding activities, this imposed quarantine is bringing marriages and families into a press. Many need not only a saviour but a healer. They need to know that every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights.
Our Father is good, always good, and does not change. His Family not only holds his name but his very nature! Songs and messages have “reset” and “realigned” the church to the goodness and love of our Father in heaven. Truly we can say His church has been prepared for such a time as this.
We, the body of Christ, must carry the Spirit of Fatherhood. It must be seen flourishing in our hearts and homes. The standard of Jesus is the expression of our Father.
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Mankind seeks love, value and acceptance and we are the world’s hope for seeing the goodness of God manifested. God, the Father desires to make himself known. This can be the greatest moment for us as believers.
He is a good Father who is unwilling for any to perish!
One of the prayer panelists yesterday said from Acts two,the fruit of an enforced quarantine that found the disciples waiting on the Father to fill their lives with his presence, moved them out of a house and profoundly altered the course of the church. It was new and never the same again.
With increased harvest comes an increased need to care for others. This can be the greatest moment for the church. We step into lives and bring the love (initial entrance) and discipline (the process of growth) of a Father.
Our days of isolation will be deeply impacting for all. Our Father gave his best to create family. For our families sake, may we continue to give our best too.