Not only a King, but a Father!

by Paul Zabel

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom”  (Luke 12: 32).

Rev. Paul Zabel

Is God set apart, or is God a part of our lives? One of the greatest miracles of life is the knowledge that God through Christ identifies Himself with us. We can become at one with Him. The Vicarious Atonement is proof of this promise—the Vicarious Atonement being the fact that Christ came to this earth as true God and as true man to be our substitute, to take our place by dying on the cross for your sins and my sins. In doing so, we have been made-at-one with God. We have been reconciled. We have been brought back into a right relationship with Almighty God, a relationship that previously had been broken by sin.

We do believe in a majestic God, but unfortunately too many think of Him as sitting on a golden throne—like an earthly king who is far detached from His people. Rather, our God is the kind of king willing to come down from his throne to walk the streets and the byways of life, in order to daily acquaint Himself with the needs of His children. He has done this out of genuine concern and love, and out of His sincere desire to reach out and help us. Consequently, He wants to know about our sufferings. He wants to be told about our mistakes. He wants us to share with Him even our little cares and worries. And He seeks to identify Himself with us in our problems so that He can give us the help that we so desperately need.

Sometime during the imperial period, during the first century A.D., a great throng of people was watching a parade pass down the street. Finally, there came a great chariot with many guards walking on each side. Seated high up on that chariot was an emperor, returning from his fields of conquest. A little lad broke through the guard and approached the king, but the guard stopped him, saying, “You can’t get on this chariot. It belongs to my emperor.” The little boy replied, “He may be your emperor, but he is my father!” Then the guards let him climb up onto to his father’s lap.

God is not only our King; He is also our Father. Fear not, therefore, little children, and be not dismayed, for each day God is present with you to lead you in the way that you should go! Let this be your first thought when you awaken in the morning. Think of it often throughout the hours of the day, and at night when you lay your head down to rest. Have faith to believe that God is your Father and that you belong to Him. Remember: He has made you in His own image. He has redeemed you with the precious blood and with the innocent suffering and death of His own beloved Son. And He has sanctified you to be His own, now and throughout eternity!

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Rev. Paul Zabel is President of the East District of Lutheran Church-Canada.

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