Call Out to the Father
I saw it at a Middle School football game. The offense ran a sneak play. After it was over, all of the players got up but one. This one boy seemed to be in a lot of pain. Lying on his back, he rocked back and forth, holding onto his leg. The coaches and trainers all ran to where he lay. We all hoped it was just a cramp, but it looked serious.
We were sitting not far from the boy’s parents. Now, football parents know that you trust the coaches and don’t rush to the field every time your child appears to be hurt. So, I watched the Mama and Daddy as they sat anxiously waiting and watching.
But then, raising his head, the boy let out a piercing cry that was heard all over the Granite Bowl, “Daddyyy.” Before the last echo faded, his father had jumped the wall separating the stands from the field and was at his son’s side. Because that is what Daddies do. When our children call, we come!
This isn’t a parable. I actually saw it happen. But it is an earthly story that illustrates a heavenly principle. In Luke 11:13, Jesus teaches us that if ordinary men can be good daddies, then how much better is our Father in Heaven? Throughout the Bible, we are told that all we have to do is call out to God and He will answer. In times of great distress, He says, “Here I am.” Those times when we are confused, He says, “Call to Me and I will answer you and teach you things you do not know.”
The bottom line is this. While men on earth can be good daddies, we have a God in Heaven who is a truly great Father. God is good and loving. Like the football parents in the stands that day, He waits for us to call out to Him. Yet even before we call, He will answer, because that’s what God does. When His children call, He is already there.
From the Bible
“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
Luke 11:11-13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.11.11-13.NLT
Douglas & Deborah Huff
From Down Where the Pavement Ends
email-douglas@pavementendsministry.com
