In my late teens I was always out late on Saturday nights. But one Sunday, I suddenly felt I should go to the church my dad worked for.

I don’t remember the talk Dad gave that day, but I can’t forget how pleased he was to see me. With his arm over my shoulder, he introduced me to everyone. “This is my son!” he said happily. That day, his joy and welcome was a picture of God’s love. And it has stuck with me ever since.

The picture of God as a loving, welcoming Father is everywhere in the Bible. In Isaiah 44, God said: “O dear Israel, my chosen one . . . I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children” (VV.2-3). In response, “Some will proudly claim, ‘I belong to the Lord,’. . . Some will write the Lord’s name on their hands” (V.5).

Even though they often got things wrong, the people of Israel belonged to God, just as I belong to my dad. Nothing I could do would ever make him stop loving me. That day, he gave me a picture of our heavenly Father’s love for us.

By: Tim Gustafson

To Pray About . . .

Thank You, Father, for showing us what real love looks no matter what our families on earth are like.