By Pastor Don Schatz

Father of Blessing

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

There is nothing that will touch the heart of a dad, and perhaps bring a tear or two to his eye, than his little girls sitting on the sunny front stoop, waiting for him to drive up from his day at work.  A father’s love is received, internalized and given back by his children.  Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven ‘belongs to such as these’ (Matthew 19:14).  Adults may expect children to imitate them.  Jesus indicates that adults should imitate the children of faith.

These granddaughters of mine love it when dad, or mom (!) comes home.  I have been there to see and hear it.  Whether waiting at the living room windows, or sitting on the front stoop, they wait expectantly.  I remember as a kid using binoculars from the north window in our attic, waiting and looking for my dad’s car coming over the hill on his way home at day’s end.

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for him.”
Isaiah 30:18. New International Version.

The Lord loves you.  The Lord is gracious to you.  How he longs to show you.  He rises, he doesn’t stay seated indifferently, feeding on dainty sweets while you deal with life.  No, the Lord rises to show you compassion.  Like a father and mother will do with their children.

Are you waiting for the Lord?  This verse is for you.  There are many others like it in the Scripture.   Our waiting is never in vain.  Our waiting is expectant, like daughters waiting for dad.  Our Father loves us.  He rescued us in Christ his Son.  He will not forsake his children.  Never.

Do you have front steps that get the sunshine?  Can you find such a place to sit and spend time in prayer today?  Offer a prayer of thanks to God, who comes to you in his Word and gathers you in his arms and says, “I love you.”

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado